English as a Symbol of Prestige: A Study of Language Attitudes among Pakistani Students

Abstract

This study explores the perception of English as a symbol of prestige among Pakistani university students and examines how their language attitudes reflect broader social hierarchies and identity formations. Drawing on the framework of sociolinguistics and language ideology, the research investigates how students’ linguistic preferences and attitudes toward English and indigenous languages manifest in educational and social domains. Data were collected through a mixed-method approach involving a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with 100 undergraduate students from both public and private universities in Pakistan. Findings revealed that English is widely perceived as a language of power, education, and upward mobility, while indigenous languages are associated with cultural identity but lower socioeconomic status. The study highlights how the dominance of English reinforces linguistic inequality and shapes students’ aspirations, self-perceptions, and social belonging. Implications for language policy and education in multilingual societies like Pakistan are also discussed.