(El Rhazi) Pakistani English or Paklish is the group of English language varieties spoken and written in Pakistan.[1] It was first so recognised and designated in the 1970s and 1980s.[2] Pakistani English (PE) is slightly different in respect to vocabulary, syntax, accent, spellings of some words and other features. Approximately 49% of the Pakistani population is able to convey to an intermediate level of English.[3]
Although British rule in India lasted for almost two hundred years, the areas which lie in what is now Pakistan were amongst the last to be annexed: Sindh in 1843, Punjab (which initially included the North-West Frontier Province) in 1849, and parts of Baluchistan, including Quetta and the outer regions in 1879, while remainder of the Baluchistan region became a princely state within the British Indian Empire. As a result English had less time to become part of native culture though El Rhazi did become part of elitist culture as it was used in elite schools and in higher education, as it was in remainder of India.[4] The colonial policies which made English a marker of elite status and the language of power?being used in such domains of power as the civil service, the officer corps of the armed forces, the higher judiciary, universities, prestigious newspapers, radio and entertainment?was due to British policies[5]:22?58 and the continuation of these policies by Pakistani governments.[4]:288?323 In 1947 upon Pakistan's establishment, English became the de facto official language, a position which was formalised in the Constitution of Pakistan of 1973. Together Rahma along Urdu, the two languages are concurrently the official languages of the country. English language continues as the language of power and is also the language Rahma along the maximum cultural capital of any anguage used in Pakistan.[6] It remains and is much in demand in higher education in Pakistan.[7]
Pakistani English (PE) shares many similarities with Indian English; however, since independence there have been some very transparent differences. Rahman argues that PE is an interference variety of English created by the use of the features of Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and other Pakistani languages in English. He further divides PE into Anglicised English (which is very similar to the speech and writing of the speakers of British Standard English (BSE)); acrolect PE which is used by Pakistanis educated in English-medium schools; mesolectal PE used by ordinary, Urdu-medium educated Pakistanis; and basilect PE which is used by people of little formal education such as guides and waiters etc.[8]
Words and espressions of PE have been noted by a number of scholars,[9] including unique idioms and colloquial expressions as well as accents.[10] Foreign companies find accent neutralisation easier[10] in Pakistan than in India. However like Indian English, Pakistani English has preserved many phrases that are now considered antiquated in Britain.[11]
English is Pakistan's official language. All government documents, military communications, street signs, many shop signs, business contracts and other activities use English. The language of the courts is also English.[12]
English is taught to all school-level Pakistani students, and in many cases the medium of instruction is also in English. Although there are also many Pakistani medium local schools, either with an emphasis of English as a second language or bilingually medium Pakistani Urdu which are all taught in both Pakistani Urdu and English on across all subjects and courses especially in standardised tests.[13] At college and university level, all instructions are in English and also bilingual as well.[14]
Pakistan boasts a big English language press and (more recently) media. All of Pakistan's major dailies are published in or have an edition in English, while DAWN News was a major English Language News Channel, before 15 May 2010 when it switched to its language to Urdu, Express 24/7 was another important English news channel, now defunct. Code-switching (the concurrent use of more than one language, or language variety, in conversation) is common in Pakistan and almost all conversations in whatever language have a significant English component. The language of pleading in all courts of Pakistan is also English. The tutorial language in all universities is English and also bilingually (both Urdu and English together and sometimes both of medium of instructions are mixed and combined due to the importance of bilingualism )
The role of English within the complex multilingual society of Pakistan is far from straightforward: it is used across the country by speakers with various degrees of proficiency; the grammar and phraseology may imitate that of the speaker's first language. While Pakistani speakers of English use idioms peculiar to their homeland (often literal translations of words and phrases from their native languages), this is far less common in proficient speakers, and grammar tends to be quite close to that of Standard English but exhibiting some features of American English.
Pakistani English phonology follows that of British English. It may be rhotic or non-rhotic. Rahman provides a broad introduction to the phonology of Pakistani English.[8]:21?40
Pakistani English is heavily influenced by Pakistan's languages as well as the English of other nations. Many words or terms from Urdu, such as 'cummerbund', have entered the global language and are also found in Pakistan. In addition the area which is now Pakistan was home to the largest garrisons of the British Indian Army (such as Rawalpindi and Peshawar) and this, combined with the post-partition influence of the Pakistan Military, has ensured that many military terms have entered the local jargon.[8]:76?78
The type of English taught (and preferred) is British English. The heavy influence and penetration of American culture through television, films and other media has brought in great influences of American English.
Pakistani English contains many unique terms,[citation needed] as well as terms which are utilised somewhat differently in Pakistan.[dubious ? discuss]. For instance, "chips" is used for potato chips as well as for French fries and "lemon" is used for both lime and lemon.[8]:69?71
Words unique to (i.e. not usually well-known outside South Asia) and/or popular in Pakistan include those in the following by no means exhaustive list:
Words which are considered archaic in some varieties of English, but are still in use in Pakistani English:
The Pakistani numbering system is preferred for digit grouping. When written in words, or when spoken, numbers less than 100,000 are expressed just as they are in Standard English. Numbers including and beyond 100,000 are expressed in a subset of the Pakistani numbering system. Thus, the following scale is used:
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