THE INFLUENCE OF GLOBALIZATION ON LANGUAGE AND

CULTURE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PAKISTAN

Introduction:
Globalization is the result of interconnected complex phenomena. It can be defined in
different terms and also different ways. Generally the term is defined as growth to a global
or world wide scale. The meaning of globalization differs around the globe, some may refer
it to the economic aspect and hence enhance the viewpoint of global economy. With
reference to culture and language, globalization is defined to be the rapid movement of ideas,
attitudes, language and values across national borders, it also reflects the theme of
standardization of culture and ideas in the global front. It is the process of homogenization
which will make human experience same by the driven effectiveness of wireless
communication methods, electronic commerce, popular culture and international trade.
The communication revolution has compressed the whole world into a small golf ball, it has
become relatively easier than ever before to track the world developments despite their
rapidly changing environments. It can be defined precisely as a process of ever growing
mutual interaction among all the nations of the world, irrespective of big or small.

Effects of Globalization on culture in Pakistan:
Pakistan has a rich and unique culture that has been preserved and established, there are
traditions throughout 5000 years of history. Many of these cultural practices, foods,
monuments, and shrines were inherited from the rule of Muslim Mughal and Afghan
emperors. Pakistani Culture is very unique in terms of its social and ethical values. These
values are something which are given due importance. This culture revolves around the
religion of Islam which teaches equality among every human being that exists on this planet.
Pakistan's culture is very diverse. The effects of globalization has been on a large scale
throughout the globe especially Pakistan.
From our economic, political to cultural points a great deal of change has occurred due to
globalization. Concept of urbanization, internet, technology, fashion and even food, there is
adaptation of other cultures. The most effected part of our culture is our language and
religion. Globalization is a challenge to a Muslim State where there are preserved heritage
and culture, especially Islamic ideology. The expansion of western concepts of behavior of
socialization, interaction patterns, organization, exchange in market and other factors are
endangering the present culture of Pakistan. The Urdu language, our identity is vanishing day
by day due to absorption of words of other languages mostly English. Even though this
concept creates homogeneity among people and limits down the national barrier but still it is
a challenging problem being faced by Pakistan.

Language:
Urdu being the National language of Pakistan is on the verge of extinction due to the
absorption capabilities, this language has. Also due to power globalization, there is a major
threat to the language of Pakistan as it is the identity of ours. Now-a-days people are more
attracted and fascinated by English more than Urdu because of the media content which is in
either English or Hindi. One of the main reason in such contents is that media does not
portray language in its pure form, instead it is a mixture of English, Hindi and some other
regional languages. One of the key factors is the lack of knowledge about our language, we
face difficulty in the understanding and comprehension of it.
Taking the example from our own society, we like to speak English as much as we hate to
speak Urdu or any other regional language as Punjabi etc. The educational institute on the
other hand have limited the Urdu to just one class per day. The mindset of majority people
consider Urdu as one of the lowest, insulting social standards. Hence, it is looked down
upon by its own people and degraded as well this is all because of the impact of globalization.
It has caused more negative effects rather than positive.

Living Style:
From the independence day of August 14, 1947 up to date, Pakistans has been a society in
transition. The living style of Pakistan is dynamic and therefore ever-changing, and its
patterns are changing transforming from time to time. The factors responsible for these
changes include the partition of subcontinent, technological and scientific innovations,
growth of urbanization, industrialization, expansion of commercial activities and trade,
changes in economic activity of the state, spread of literacy and in all is due to the fact of
globalization.
Everyone needs a change in lifestyle as one gets bored in the same monotonous living style.
Changes must be brought but they must have a positive impact rather than negative. The
living style of Pakistan is indeed a different one from the rest of the world especially west.
We live in a patriarchal society, where male is dominated one and bread earner of the family
but as changing patterns the females are also dominating and earning. Many examples from
our lifestyle are there that have changed just because of the globalization. Now we are much
more modernized and technologically advanced. Our living standards and habits have started
resembling that of western people because we have adopted the lifestyle they follow. Many
more difference and changes are visible in our countrys lifestyle.

Effects on Dress Code:
Today due to globalization, Pakistani culture is largely influenced by the western society. Our
traditional dress is Shalwar Kamiz which is mostly turned in to shirt and trousers. This main
influence is due to the fact that many Pakistani are living abroad and they come back with
this change. Media has been playing a key role in this part, we are obsoleting our national
dresses and traditional dresses as well.
Pakistani culture is represented by Shalwar Kamiz and it is our identity as well, but as the
time has progressed we have adopted the western culture and fashion in our daily routine. We
have shifted towards trousers and shirts, jeans and tee-shirts. Now-a-days people are seen in
jeans as well which again a western style of dressing is. This change might be good to an
extent but it is degrading our values of wearing simple and elegant dressing. Moreover people
are ashamed of wearing national dress rather than something which does not even belong to
our culture. This will be a bad impact on the future generations who will not be aware of the
traditions and customs regarding our dress code. This is the major drawback of globalization
in Muslim infused society.

Socialization:
By socialization, we mean the process by which individuals acquire the knowledge, language,
social skills, and values to adapt to the norms and roles required in the integration into a
group or community. It is a combination of both self-imposed and externally-imposed rules,
and the expectations of others. This is the learning process that one starts acquiring in his/her
childhood and adapts the same process.
Globalization has brought many changes within our society, not long ago the process of
socialization was door to door, we were aware of our neighbors and people living next to
them but now, the situation is completely opposite we try to socialize more on media, internet
and cellphones rather than with neighbor. We have made our own little virtual world where
everything is on the other side of the world. This impact of globalization is a causing a great
deal of problems in our social life. We have lost all the moral and ethical values that
represented us, not only that we have lost respect for our values and norms that still exist
somewhere. It is all because of the highly advancing media and internet accessibility that is
refraining us to follow the same cultural ethics once we used to follow.

Conclusion:
Pakistan is facing the most difficult challenge as a third world country. As the world has
become a global village, Pakistan needs to focus on preserving its cultures and traditions,
most importantly their language.
In fact, globalization is a root of destruction to all the cultural values of Pakistan
Globalization is destroying everything that is valuable in our civilization
-Shiva, 2001





References:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/globalization

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cultural-globalization.htm

http://www.saglobalaffairs.com/back-issues/1052-the-endangered-language.html

http://www.theurdulanguage.com/Future.htm

http://archives.dawn.com/archives/13516

http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/szic/pdf_files/2-E-
Globalization%20and%20Pakistan.pdf

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438805/Pakistan/276108/Daily-life-and-
social-customs

http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=1168

http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=9896

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/socialization.html

http://pakobserver.net/201309/15/detailnews.asp?id=218112

http://www.beerkens.info/files/globalisation.pdf










ASSIGNMENT NO. 1
INTRODUCTION TO STUDY OF LITERATURE



Topic:
Influence of Globalization on Culture and Language
with special reference to Pakistan



Submitted to:
Sir Qaiser Kamran



Submitted by:
Bisma Ilyas
2012-B.DDS-008



Date:
11
th
November, 2013

Fatima Jinnah Women University,
The Mall, Rawalpindi.
2013