Shifting patterns of Sindhi language use: evidence for renewal or decline?

 

Sindhi has survived a history of more than 1,000 years of contact with languages of foreign rulers, and today boasts a population of native speakers conservatively estimated at over 20 million in Sindh, with another several million speakers in India and beyond the subcontinent. These numbers suggest a secure future for the language in the global context, yet closer inspection reveals cause for concern. This paper considers the linguistic, sociological and technological factors impacting Sindhi today. The patterns of language use in Sindhi communities today indicate two conflicting trends: the increased use of Sindhi in electronic communication suggests a renewal is underway, but at the same time there is growing evidence of contact-induced change and generational decline. The outcome--- rejuvenation or rapid decline--- will depend on the success of the networked electronic medium in linking speakers across national boundaries, in facilitating the exchange of information and ideas and the sharing of a common cultural and literary heritage. This paper will highlight recent developments in electronic access to Sindhi, and the Sindhi Online language learning project.