FROM WHATSAPP TO CLASSROOM; TRACING SILENT MULTILINGUALISM AMONG PUNJABI YOUTH

Abstract

 The study aims to analyze the effects of silent multilingualism on whatsapp and classroom among Punjabi youth. It highlights the presence of Punjabi language as a language of identity and the emotional connection even if it is suppressed in academic discourse. This study showed how native Punjabi speakers feel pressure to avoid Punjabi in their academic spaces. On the other hand it highlights the phenomenon in which whatsapp gives them freedom to use their native language and show sudden language shifts. The theory of translanguaging originated by Cen William has been used to analyze the concepts of bilingual and multilingual translanguaging. In modern era Ofelia Garcia and Baker promoted this theory and explored it in multiple fields of linguistics. The research utilizes qualitative approach associated with data collected from students of National University of Modern Languages of MPhil English department. The research is based on case study analysis. The 10 screenshots of whatsapp chats were unplanned and random while other source was open-ended questionnaire that consists of 10 questions. It enhances the concept of silent multilingualism by asking the participants about their personal language on their own native language use in academic settings. The spontaneous language shifts on whatsapp shows that Punjabi is more nourished and preserved on digital media platforms. They blend Punjabi, Urdu and English fluidly. This phenomenon shows the aspects of linguistic freedom on digital media. Punjabi language is known as language of humor, intimacy and emotional connection with culture and society. Institutional settings promotes English language and the people who are fluent in English are considered sensible and mature while punjabi language users are judged and also are not allowed to consider it as a language of academia.