English Language as a Symbol of Status in Constructing Social Identity among Undergraduate Students in the Department of English at University of Peshawar
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Date
2026
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR
Abstract
This study examined how English functions as a status symbol in the construction of
social identity among undergraduate students in the Department of English at the
University of Peshawar. Guided by Bourdieu‘s concept of linguistic capital and
Tajfel‘s Social Identity Theory, the study investigated students‘ perceptions of
English as a marker of social status, the linguistic markers most associated with high
status, and the campus settings where English is used to signal academic belonging or
gain peer approval. A quantitative survey was administered to undergraduates in the
department and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings showed a neutral
perception of English as a peer status marker (M = 3.14). Accent (57.8%) and
vocabulary (54.9%) were the strongest markers of competence and respect, whereas
code-switching was rated lowest, with 74.6% viewing it as not contributing to status.
English was predominantly used in academic settings—67.6% in classrooms and
56.3% in course WhatsApp groups—but rarely in informal spaces like the canteen
(15.5%). The results indicate that students use English strategically as academic
capital while maintaining their first language to preserve social solidarity. This
reflects dual identity construction: an ―academic self‖ performed through English and
a ―social self‖ maintained through L1. The study highlights how linguistic practices
are shaped by both institutional norms and peer-group identity processes.