English Language as a Symbol of Status in Constructing Social Identity among Undergraduate Students in the Department of English at University of Peshawar
| dc.contributor.author | JAVERIA HAMID | |
| dc.contributor.author | Supervisor MR. ZUBAIR KHATTAK | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-31T10:08:58Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-31T10:08:58Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.description.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. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://repository.uop.edu.pk/123456789/551 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR | |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | 100054 | |
| dc.title | English Language as a Symbol of Status in Constructing Social Identity among Undergraduate Students in the Department of English at University of Peshawar | |
| dc.type | Thesis |