Balochistan Journal of Linguistics

Modeling Lexical Organisation and Access: Bilinguals and Multilinguals

Bushra Ashraf — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0500

This article attempts to present a comprehensive account of models of lexical organisation and access to understand bilingual and multilingual language processing. The increasing number of bilingual and trilingual speakers has given rise to the question of how these speakers manage, control, and access multiple languages. Linguists, philologists, and psycholinguists turned to investigate how multiple languages are organised and accessed in the mental lexicon of bilinguals and trilinguals. It not only traces the earliest attempts to understand the bilingual language processing but also discusses various contemporary models including both the hierarchical models, and the computational models by identifying the interrelationship between the factors that influence lexical organisation and access in the mental lexicon. The nuanced understanding of bilingual and multilingual lexical organisation and access has practical implications for the multilingual society at large like Pakistan and linguistic and pedagogical implications in particular where teachers and students both take advantage of their linguistic competence of multiple languages.

Investigating Post-Focus Compression in the Saraiki Language

Muhammad Hamza Razzaq — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0500

This study investigates the manifestation of post-focus compression (PFC) in the saraiki language, a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. Through an analysis of fundamental frequency, syllable duration, and intensity patterns, the study reveals that Saraiki do not possess post-focus compression. Specifically, while there is a slight increase in fundamental frequency in sentence-initial focus positions, a noticeable decrease is observed in medial word focus positions. Similarly, syllable duration shows a minor decrease in sentence-initial focus positions but a significant increase in medial word focus positions. Despite these observed patterns, statistical analysis indicates that the differences in prosodic features between post focus and neutral phrases do not reach significance. This study was conducted to verify the hypothesis that post-focus compression is spread vertically in language families and all the languages that have post-focus compression originated from a single proto-language. The findings of this study indicates that Saraiki do not possess PFC.

An Analysis of Syllable Patterns in Gojri Monosyllabic Words

Nabeela Khalid, Dr. Sehrish Shafi, Ambreen Rahim — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0500

Gojri is an Indo Aryan language, commonly used in mountainous regions of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The aim of this study is to examine the syllable patterns and phonotactic limitations of Gojri monosyllabic words to better understand their phonological structures. It is investigated that Gojri exhibits a variety of syllable structures, including V, CV, CVC, CCV, CCVC, and VC, with CVC being the most frequently used. The research examines the onset, coda, and nucleus patterns in these syllables, revealing the use of both single consonants and consonant clusters in the onset and coda positions. Notably, consonant clusters follow the Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP), where the second consonant in a cluster is more sonorous than the first. The study also identifies phonotactic constraints, particularly in the permissible combinations of consonants at the onset and coda positions, such as the restriction of certain consonant sounds like /h/ and /v/ in these positions. Through a detailed analysis, this study highlights the systematic nature of Gojri's syllabic structure while providing insights into the phonological patterns that govern monosyllabic words in the language. Further research could explore the phonotactics of disyllabic words and the influence of regional languages on Gojri syllable patterns.

Exploring Learners' Views about Learning English Language through English Poetry at Graduate Level

Arif Khan, Ali Raza Baloch, Muhammad Anwar — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0500

This paper explores English language learner’s perception of learning English language through English poetry at a graduate level. Since poetry has great variety, it is a powerful tool for learning any language. It is a qualitative study in which phenomenological research design was used. The data were collected through a focus-group interview followed by non-participant observation. The findings show that poetry is great for learning English language. It helps students to increase their vocabulary, sentence structure, pronunciation, reading skills, etc. Possible future tasks and suggestions involve cross-cultural research, follow-up studies, technical knowledge and enhanced teaching concepts. Teachers and educators can go on extending language-related activities where students can enhance their language interaction with other languages, the culture, and even research and development in this line to build more practices and educational prospects.