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Trolling is a pervasive phenomenon world over which came into being with the spread of social media. Many countries in the West were the frontliners in facing trolling; hence, in order to grapple with it, their academics came to the forefront to investigate its language. However, language is situated and contextual; thus, the understanding of the phenomenon of trolling through the lens of west cannot encompass the regional differences of this phenomenon. Therefore, in order to understand the phenomenon of trolling in Pakistan, this study explores the lexico-grammatical variation of Pakistani trolling on X. For this purpose, a corpus of 2,317 trolling posts is developed. A Short Text Multidimensional Approach formulated by Clarke (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) is used. After the initial tagging of data by Multidimensional Analysis Twitter Tagger (MDATT), the data is further subjected to multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) in R Studio software. The results obtained in the form of dimensions are then further interpreted. The findings reveal that Pakistani trolling has one major dimension i.e. interactive vs informational which exists in other genres and registers as well. However, the trolls with an informational communicative function also use linguistic features of nouns and adjectives from Urdu which are used to name-call or insult people. The study will prove to be significant not only for the general understanding of the phenomenon of trolling in Pakistan, but also for advancing further research on trolling in Pakistan from different perspectives. Keywords: Online trolling, Twitter, Pakistan, Multidimensional Analysis, Multiple Correspondence Analysis

This study deals with the phonological adaptation of English loanwords into Khowar. It aims to find out the English loanwords in Khowar language, investigate the processes involved, and document the phonological changes that occur during the adjustment. The data for this research study is collected from different semantic domains using the technique of participant observation. A qualitative approach is used for the analysis of data. A total of 10 English loanwords are collected and analyzed using the Optimality Theory framework. As for sampling, this study uses a purposive sampling technique. The findings show that Khowar has extensively borrowed many English words. Secondly, three repairing techniques i.e., deletion, substitution, and epenthesis are found to be used to adjust the illicit structure of English loanwords. Among these techniques, substitution is the dominant one.Furthermore, the studyreveals that complex consonants and vowels are not allowed in Khowar, and the coda consonant is often voiceless. Keywords: Phonological Adaptation, English Loanwords, Khowar, Optimality Theory, Repairing Techniques

The issue of representation of women in the literature and other domains of society emerged as an important field of study from mid nineteenth century with a focus on the subjugation of women in the male patriarchal society. Although, the status and rights of women have been widely discussed and women as an individual identity with their own rights and role in society remained the subject of various research. The analysis of women needs, is much needed to highlight the humanistic psychological perspective. The aim of this study is to identify the portrayal of women protagonists in the 19th and 20th century literature based on their needs analysis to highlight the difference in how this portrayal changed over the period of time. It is done by using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model. Two short stories, one from the 19th and the other from the 20th century have been analyzed. The study concludes that the representation of women in literature had undergone major changes in correlation to the emergence of feminist theory and the change in socio-political scenarios. The results show that the woman protagonist in the late nineteenth century short story was portrayed as submissive, dependent upon the opinions of male characters, therefore, suffering at the hands of patriarchy. Whereas the woman entering 20th century is more independent, ambitious, aware of her potentials and is eager to achieve the highest state of freedom and autonomy, even compromising marital relations. Keywords: Representation, Individual Identity, Needs Analysis, Patriarchy, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

This study uses multidimensional analysis to investigate linguistic variations in the autobiographical works of four Pakistani political figures. The analysis is grounded in the 67 linguistic features defining different dimensions of the texts introduced by Biber. The results unveil several compelling trends. Dimension 1, assessing the informational style of the text, manifests a shift towards a more factual and objective tone over time. Dimension 2, measuring the narrative quality of the text, exhibits a growing emphasis on storytelling and the engagement of readers through compelling narratives. Dimension 3, quantifying the explicitness of discourse, demonstrates that autobiographies are becoming more direct and explicit in their language. Dimension 4, assessing the argumentative quality of the text, indicates that these autobiographies are becoming increasingly argumentative and persistent in their presentation of arguments. Finally, dimension 5, evaluating the abstractness of discourse, illustrates a trend towards a more abstract style of discourse over time. These findings offer valuable insights into the evolving linguistic landscape of autobiographies by Pakistani political figures. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for the understanding of the role of language in Pakistani politics by highlighting the dynamic nature of the linguistic environment in the autobiographical works of Pakistani political figures. Keywords: co-occurring linguistic features; linguistic variation, multidimensional analysis, Pakistani political autobiographies,

The Indigenous vocabulary of fiction discourse reflecting sociocultural perspectives of society as an essential linguistic device illuminates the rich cultural load within itself. his paper deals with the emergence of discourse analysis in literary contexts. It also sheds light on contextual dimensions and how their relevance to Pakistani Anglophone fiction will contribute to the social construction of patterns. This paper aims to identify patterns of activity built through Urduized vocabulary revealing a complex fictional world of discourse that defies mere plot of local variety. Following Baker’s (2008) synergy approach, this study follows a combination of corpus linguistics and discourse analysis. This research investigates the representation of social actors and their actions in the discourse of Pakistani American fiction. Corpus analysis tools yield findings with informed knowledge filtered through tagging and annotation systems of different text varieties of various domains. Corpus of Uzma Aslam Khan’s fiction Trespassing was used to analyze concordance lines of the selected word ‘dupatta’ as texts are described and explained using Gee’s (2011) approach and method of discourse analysis. The activity-building task is exploited along with the ‘social language tool’ as a tool of inquiry for data analysis, to develop a deep understanding of the discourse and related sociocultural aspects built around the target word, ‘dupatta’. The findings of the analysis show unique linguistic patterns and activities built around the indigenous vocabulary items from the corpus of fiction. Unique features of the discourse are also identified through female representation, character building and actions around the text. Overall, the findings suggest that the ‘dupatta representation’ and views of social reality are diverse, contradictory, and changing as per the character and context wherever needed. Keywords: Indigenous vocabulary, sociocultural perspectives, corpus linguistics, discourse analysis

This research is a contribution to a growing critical debate on the ethnocultural contest, and exercise of hegemonic coercive powers to constitute class stratification and marginalization of the weak. Since hegemony is the dominant class’s manipulation of social standards, principles, and perceptions, even then, it is not governmental control, but rather, domination over the ruled by their consent incorporated in them through “false consciousness”. The Secret Sky (2014) demonstrates cultural clashes in a community of diverse ethnicity – Pashtun and Hazara, where one dominant tribe through its hegemonic ideology imposes its values upon the others, thus suppressing and marginalizing their culture/s. The paper’s objective is to highlight the transformative efforts of the others, who resist, and undo the conservative power structures by constructing the Counter-Hegemonic Project and renewing the culture to save society from stagnation. This qualitative research uses Marx’s idea of class stratification, and social division into the bourgeois and proletariat, with Gramsci’s notion of Cultural Hegemony, and the Counter-Hegemonic Project, as a lens for textual analysis. The research concludes that conservative hegemonic power acts as a fence against intercultural mixing to leave society monolithic and oppressive, while, resistance under the actual dynamics of intellectuals brings evolution and moral leadership. Key Words: Hegemony, Culture, Counter Hegemonic Project, Bourgeoisie, Proletariat

Diminutive is a morphological category common to majority of the languages- often taking the form of suffix. Some over 50 languages have been investigated for the uses and functions of diminutivity (Mintsys & Mintsys, 2015). Though scholars have identified markers attached with Pashto noun for inflections (Khan et al., 2016), the wide-ranging uses of diminutive marking of noun has not been investigated until very recently (Khan, 2023). Its morphological variations, lexical and semantic functions have not been sufficiently accounted for. A comprehensive morphological description of diminutive markers in Pashto, its utility and productivity needs thorough investigation. The present study aimed to provide an account of different morphological realizations of diminutive markers of Pashto nouns and to enlist its several lexical and semantic functions with English diminutive. Analysis was confined to noun only because noun is considered as the prototypical class for diminutive marking (Schneider, 2003). Unstructured interviews of 10 Pashto experts, purposively selected as key informants, were conducted to obtain primary data concerning diminutive in Pashto. For its comparison with English, the researchers utilized the existing body of research on English diminutive. The study found different morphological realizations of diminutive that are attached with nouns in Pashto. Diminutive plays the dual role of inflectional morpheme as gender marker and source of bringing change in meaning of noun in Pashto simultaneously in several instances. It also serves a lexical function as a source of word-formation- since many nouns marked for diminutivity acquire the status of independent lexemes. Semantically, diminutive adds the senses of smallness, pejoration, endearment and affection, as well as, disdain and contempt to the meaning of nouns. Lastly, diminutive is used for hypocorism in the case of proper nouns. Each of the pattern and function of Pashto diminutive has been exemplified and illustrated by comparing to its equivalent form and use in English language. The study is helpful in enriching the knowledge of researchers dealing with Pashto Morphology, Semantics, grammar and lexicography. Keywords: Diminutive marking, Pashto and English nouns, Word-formation

Law is of utmost importance for each society as it ensures access to justice. In our increasingly interconnected global community, characterized by diverse, multilingual populations, the use of monolingual legal systems can present significant impediments. Consequently, the imperative emerges to translate legal texts into multiple languages. Such translations fall into distinct categories, with some pertaining to domestic legal systems within society and others extending to international legal contexts. The act of translation becomes a multifaceted challenge due to the inherent differences in linguistic and social structures of languages, each offering a unique lens through which to interpret reality. Drawing upon Even-Zohar’s (1979) polysystem theory, Saussure's semiotic framework, and Halliday’s metafunctional language analysis, this paper attempts to find out the way translators deal with these challenges when translating English-Urdu legal texts. The investigation uncovers that the conceptualizations of legal reality may undergo some shifts during the translation process, as influenced by the idiosyncrasies of the target language and its social context. The study proposes that legal texts should receive parliamentary endorsement, especially in their translations, to ensure comprehensive legal harmonization. This research paves the way for future research where issues in the implementation of translated law can be highlighted and the ways to eradicate those problems can be discussed. Keywords: linguistic system, legal translation, SFL, corpus, transitivity

This study aims at analyzing linguistic choices portraying violence and abuse in Noor (Khan, 2003) by employing Thematic Roles (Andrews, 1958; Radford, 1988, as cited in Saeed, 2016) which underline the roles of the participants according to the described situation. The purpose of the study is to explore the exhaustiveness through which the text breaks down and portrays the torturing situation of women under suppressive socio-cultural tensions and requirements. The data has been selected and then scrutinized under the variables such as violence, marginalization, abuse, victimization, and objectification of female characters employed by the writer. The study mirrors the destiny of women as conjugal joy and their job to fulfill their familial commitments as opposed to fostering any design for the accomplishment of individual objectives. The findings reveal that among the male-centric society, the tragic downfall of the females give rise to marginalization, victimization, violence, and abuse. Therefore, the study is significant to unfold that females are treated as the man's property especially in the Asian culture in focus; subsequently, the committing of the rape against them is not only to suppress them but to endorse a particular prejudice. Keywords: Violence, Abuse, Victimization, Linguistic Choices, Female-portrayal.