Shaping Linguistic Identity through Wakhi Language Attitudes

Abstract

This main objective of current research is to explore the attitudes of Wakhi-speaking students toward the Wakhi language in Rawalpindi. Wakhi students migrate from Gilgit to Rawalpindi in order to pursue higher education. People’s attitudes toward their language have strong effects on its status and maintenance in a community. The study employed a quantitative research approach to obtain the results. A questionnaire was selected as the data collection tool. This research attempted to examine whether the participants are proud or ashamed of their language and accent, also highlight the difficulties they face while speaking Urdu as a Wakhi speaker. Overall, the findings of this research were positive. The young generation is positive in its attitude and is proud to speak their own language which is one of the components that contribute to the survival of language since there are other major languages around.