EXAMINING LEXICO-SEMANTIC DIVERSITY IN PAKISTANI ENGLISH THROUGH NEWSPAPER CORPUS ANALYSIS

Abstract

The present paper studies the lexico-semantic features of Pakistani English (PakE) in newspapers as influenced by globalization and localized cultural practices (Manuel, 2021). Pakistani English, as part of the Outer Circle of Kachru’s (1985) model of World Englishes, represents linguistic creativity that reflects the socio-cultural and political context of the South Asian region. In this study, the writer identifies lexical borrowings, new hybrids, and semantic innovations that differentiate PakE from Standard British English (SBE) by analyzing a sample of articles retrieved from leading Pakistani English newspapers, with SBE serving as the historical reference point. The proposed methodology employs a corpus-based approach, utilizing tools such as AntConc to examine frequency patterns, collocations, and semantic changes (Manuel, 2021). The study shows that loanwords borrowed from Urdu and regional languages are frequently used; many semantic extensions arise from Pakistan-specific contexts; and numerous culture-specific terms reflect Pakistan’s socio-political landscape. Furthermore, the study situates these findings within the post-globalized world, where multiple varieties of English are emerging, and explores how PakE—despite its localization process—participates in the construction of Global Englishes (Kachru, 1992; Manuel, 2021). Using newspaper data, this study highlights how PakE serves as an intermediary that negotiates between a globalized linguistic model and localized linguistic resources. Lastly, the paper concludes that such research not only enriches World Englishes scholarship but also reaffirms the importance of accepting and respecting variation and originality in non-native Englishes within a globalized society (Manuel, 2021).