English Language and its Socio-Economic Impacts in the Pakistani Context

Abstract

The contemporary era is a new stage of capitalism commonly known as informationalism, where production and distribution are becoming globalized. This new flexible, customized production advantages those who control the technology and media where symbolic information is processed. Furthermore, it creates increasing inequality for those who lack technological access and know-how. This study is organized after a keen observation of the dominance of the English language as a lingua franca or Tyrannosaurus rex. The main purpose was study to the socioeconomic impacts of the English language on the lives of common individuals in Pakistani society. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted within Lahore with professionals related to English language coaching who had a minimum of ten years of experience in their field. The critical social science approach was adopted for this study and the sampling strategy was the critical case sampling to gain an excessive and detailed amount of information from the population. The results were quite unique in their nature as proficiency in the English language provides you with these benefits: excessive job opportunities and high salaries, social mobility, and certification as a well-mannered and intelligent individual in society on the other side absence of this important factor gives you depression, alienation, unemployment, inferiority complex, and low standing in the social fabric of Pakistani society.
Key Words: First Language (L1), Second Language (L2), English Language Proficiency (ELP)
Paper type Research Paper