Study of Lexical Choices: A Case Study of Khairpur and Lar Regions of Sindh

Abstract

Aim of the Study: Languages vary in time place. This variation causes language shift, language change death. Sindhi language is also undergoing continuous change under the influence of Urdu and English languages. There is a little research on the historical perspectives of Sindhi language family and its dialectical variation (Ali, 2016). Therefore, this paper aims to fill this gap and explores the lexical variations between two dialects, i.e., Lar and Utradi dialects of Sindhi language. These two dialects are adjacent, yet have some differences with respect to the  lexical choices.

Methodology: This paper is carried out through a qualitative exploratory study. The observation and interview have been conducted to collect the data. The five participants were selected purposively.

Findings: The findings of the study highlights the variations in lexical choices between two dialects. The findings also revealed that the speakers of Lar region chose more typical Sindhi words such as “جوت ” (in roman English ‘jot’, and in English fire, i.e., a bonefire) and Speakers of Utradi dialect chose modernised lexical choices. Hence, Utradi dialect is more inclined to language change than Lari dialect.

Conclusion: The study concluded with the assumption that social and cultural factors can be noticed in understanding the lexical choices made in both regions as the researchers showed the results with examples in which there were almost different linguistic choices. Based on the findings of this study, it can be suggested that there is huge need for the research to understand the causes of these differences that may help the language researchers to suggest the ways to maintain Sindhi language.