Pronunciation and Semantic Difference in Pakistani and British English

Abstract

The study aims to identify the words which vary in pronunciation from Standard British English and also aim to identify the lexical and semantic features of Pakistani English to determine in what ways their usage is different. The informal conversation was recorded for the data. The conversation was then transcribed into written form and was listened carefully several times to find the phonological and semantic deviation from Standard English. The data obtained from the recording was then further analyzed and found that Pakistani English speakers do not pronounce the common words according to the Standard pronunciation. Interference of the first language while speaking in English can be one of the reasons. In addition, they might not be aware of the process such as rhetoric, aspiration, and intonation. Furthermore, the Lexico-semantic dimension of Pakistani English also deviates from British English, in the usage of words. Islamic and Pakistani culture plays a vital role in shaping the lexicon of Pakistani English. The study asserts that Pakistani English has its norms and standards which make it a distinctive variety of English and should be addressed as an acceptable variety of English.