Analyzing Paklish in the English Department of a University: A Focus on Spoken Language

Abstract

This research investigates the emergence of Pakistani English (Paklish) as a distinct linguistic variety within Kachru’s (1984) World Englishes model, employing his three concentric circles as the theoretical and analytical lens. Positioned within the Outer Circle, Paklish is compared with the Inner Circle varieties of Standard English, such as British and American English, to identify linguistic differences shaped by local context and sociocultural factors. The study explores how Paklish has evolved through unique lexical, grammatical, structural, and spoken features for example, copy for notebook, I like junk foods for I like junk food, and Today, I will meet you instead of I will meet you today. In spoken communication, expressions like give exams are commonly used in place of take exams. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study focuses on the spoken language used within the English Department of Hamdard University, Main Campus, Karachi. It analyzes frequently occurring phrases and expressions to illustrate how Paklish diverges from, yet meaningfully coexists with, Standard English norms, contributing to the broader understanding of localized English varieties in multilingual contexts.