LANGUAGE SHIFT AND IMMINENT LANGUAGE DEATH: A DIACHRONIC STUDY OF DAWOODI

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of language shift within the Dawoodi-speaking community through a diachronic framework, tracing its trajectory from stable intergenerational transmission to near extinction. The research integrates oral histories, sociolinguistic interviews, and generational language competence assessments. The findings reveal a systematic decline in Dawoodi usage across domains, particularly within domestic and communal settings, where dominant regional languages have increasingly replaced it. The study identifies key drivers of this shift, including socio-economic mobility, educational policies favoring majority languages, and the absence of institutional support for minority language preservation. A critical pattern emerging from the data is the transition from active bilingualism among older speakers to passive comprehension among younger generations, indicating a late-stage language shift scenario. The research situates Dawoodi within established models of language endangerment, arguing that it has entered an advanced phase of obsolescence characterized by functional reduction and symbolic marginalization. By combining historical linguistic insights with contemporary sociocultural analysis, the study highlights the urgency of documentation and revitalization initiatives. Ultimately, this paper contributes to the broader discourse on endangered languages by presenting Dawoodi as a critical case of imminent language death in South Asia, emphasizing that without immediate intervention, the language risks irreversible loss within a single generation.