The Process of Othering in Pakistani English Newspapers

Abstract

Language is not merely a means of expressing ourselves but is a tool of doing things also. Othering is one of such things that are done through language. We construct and propagate our identities and also assign and construe the identities of other people through language. Media, as an example of language in use, plays a crucial role in producing and establishing the reality. The study aims to document the othering process in Pakistani print media and in Pakistani society in general. The data for the study was gathered from columns of English newspaper i.e Dawn. The results and findings contribute to the literature regarding the process of Othering in Pakistani print media and also provide an insight to the trends in media and attitude of public through content analysis of two hundred and fifty-two (252) columns of one of the most leading English language newspapers of Pakistan. The main findings of the paper suggest that the process of othering occurs in the columns of Pakistani English newspaper to a great extent and is always deliberate and purposeful.