Variation of Language Prestige and Politeness Patterns in Genders: A Punjabi Speakers’ Community Analysis

Abstract

This study aims to dig out the politeness strategies employed by Punjabi speakers; males and females, while requesting
their seniors, juniors and friends. Furthermore, it seeks out their preferred language; English, Urdu or Punjabi, during
these face-saving acts. The researcher enquired two queries; if there is an association between gender and politeness
strategies and gender and their preferred language code. Secondly, which of the strategies and languages are the most
preferred ones, while requesting different interlocutors who are different to them in their social status, intimacy and
power? The sample comprised of 168 Punjabis (male=83, females= 85), and a Discourse Completion Test (DCT) was given
to them to collect data. The results were analyzed through SPSS by applying the chi-square test. The results concluded
that there is a close association between gender and language choice while requesting friends and subordinates, but no
difference is observed in the language choice and politeness strategy while requesting someone who is senior to them
socially. Interestingly, females have totally abandoned Punjabi with their friends, and they are more into Urdu, while
males’ second preferred language is Punjabi, unlike females. Males request their juniors in Punjabi, contrastingly to
females who use the Urdu language. The research is beneficial to the language policy makers and the institutes who are
stakeholders of languages and who are responsible for the maintenance of languages and preservation of culture.