REPRESENTATION OF IDENTITIES: A STUDY OFLANGUAGE ON WHEELS

Authors

  • Wasim Hasan Assistant Professor, Department of English, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Lahore Campus Author
  • Zafar Iqbal Bhatti Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics and Communications, (ILA), University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore Author
  • Anila Akbar Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Communications, (ILA), University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore Author
  • Zarmeena Khan Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Communications, (ILA), University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore Author

Keywords:

Language, Wheels, Critical Discourse Analysis, Identities

Abstract

Language written on domestic and commercial vehicles attracts people in the surrounding and is a source of entertainment. It conveys different messages and has hidden meanings also. Owners and drivers get different things written on their vehicles. This paper proposes that writings on the wheels besides attracting people represent identities of their owners and drivers. It is qualitative and exploratory study. Data were collected from 100 vehicles through observation from five crowded areas i-e Mall Road, Canal Road, Jail Road and main boulevard Gulberg of Lahore (Pakistan) through purposive sampling technique. A list of all the writings from these 100 vehicles was formed for analysis. For theoretical framework, Fairclough‟s three-dimensional model in critical discourse analysis (CDA) was followed to interpret identities. Analysis of the collected data shows that these writings include phrase, verse, quotes in different styles of calligraphy and art. Analysis also highlights that people reveal their social, political, religious, cultural and intellectual identities through these inscriptions. These writings are not for just decoration and fun sake, but they convey hidden meanings too

Downloads

Published

2020-12-30

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 4 (2020): jahan-e-tahqeeq

Section

Articles