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Title LANGUAGE ATTRITION AND LEXICAL GAP ACROSS GENERATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF SARAIKI COMMUNITY

Author(s) Ayesha Shahneel Khalid

Abstract Language attrition and the emergence of lexical gap across generations have become a critical concern within minority language communities, as the exposure to the dominant languages has caused the shift in sociolinguistics dynamics, influencing the flow of intergenerational communication. This study aims to examine the attrition of Saraiki and the emergence of lexical gap across the generations of Saraiki community emphasizing aspects such as intergenerational language transmission and intergenerational communication. A mixed method approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods has been used for this study. Questionnaires and semi- structured interviews were employed as research tools in the present study. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire have been checked. The data collected through questionnaire was analyzed by using SPSS software. For the interviews, the thematic analysis has been conducted. The theoretical framework adopted in this study comprised the Dynamic System Theory (DST) by Biot, Lowie and Verspoor (2007) and the Ecology of Language Framework by Hornberger & Hult (2008). With the help of these theories, this study has explored and discussed both the external (social) and internal (cognitive) factors playing hard behind the attrition process of Saraiki. However, this research mainly contributes to sociolinguistics as it has dealt with the social issue of language attrition and intergenerational communication affected by language attrition. The findings of this study have revealed that in Saraiki there are various lexical gaps occurring other than innovation and cultural gap. This signals towards the vast range of attrition in Saraiki. Other findings have unveiled that the usage frequency of Saraiki among younger generations has been diminished to the level near to no usage at all. This adversely impacts both the intergenerational communication and transmission of Saraiki that in turn, gives birth to the lexical gap. Few suggestions regarding preservation of Saraiki language have also been provided in the last chapter of this research

Type Thesis/Dissertation

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Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2025-08-25

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