LINGUISTIC PORTRAYALS OF GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND SOCIAL CLASS IN PAKISTANI TELEVISION

Abstract

This research paper presents a discourse analysis of identity construction and negotiation in Pakistani television dramas and cinema, focusing on dimensions of gender, ethnicity, and social class. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study examines a corpus of contemporary television serials and feature films produced between 2005 and 2025. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and other sociolinguistic and methodological frameworks are employed to investigate linguistic elements such as lexical choices, conversational patterns, code-switching, dialect representation, politeness strategies, and reported speech. The central inquiry revolves around the role of media discourse in either reinforcing or subverting societal norms and stereotypical identity roles. Data collection involves purposive sampling of scenes depicting interactions in various settings, including familial, professional, judicial, and public spaces, which are then transcribed and analyzed qualitatively for recurring linguistic patterns associated with social identity markers. The study's findings are expected to illuminate the discursive mechanisms through which media shapes social meanings, highlighting the intersection of language and power within Pakistani audiovisual culture. Ultimately, the research aims to inform the development of media guidelines and policy recommendations that promote more nuanced representation. This paper contributes to the fields of sociolinguistics, media studies, and cultural studies through the development of a framework to interpret language in screen narratives as ideologically loaded.

Key Words: Discourse Analysis, Identity Construction, Pakistani Media, Sociolinguistics, Media Representation, Cultural Studies, Language and Power.