Exploring the interplay between English and Pashto discourse markers: an undergraduates' perspective
Loading...
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UMT.Lahore
Abstract
The study aims to explore the interplay between English and Pashto Discourse markers; the research brings forward the problems faced by the Yousafzai Pashto Learners (YPL) while using discourse markers. The research targets to discover the syntactic and pragmatic problems YPL face while using English discourse markers. Theoretical underpinning includes interlanguage theory by Selinker (1972) which suggests that the learners of second language create an interlinked linguistic system which incorporates the features of their native language with the target language. The data is collected through purposive sampling by 27 undergraduate learners whose 1st language is the Yousafzai Pashto. The data is collected through questionnaire and interviews; the questionnaire data is analyzed through descriptive statistics whereas interview questions are examined through thematic analysis. The results show that YPL face difficulties while using discourse markers in general and particularly using Topic shifter marker and counter-argument connectives are determined as the most challenging ones due to the specific meaning they have in the Yousafzai Pashto language, which lack direct equivalent in English language.