SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIOLINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH: ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ENGLISH MAJOR FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Sociolinguistic knowledge is vital in shaping student scholars into successful social scientists. This paper attempts to explain the impact of sociolinguistic knowledge on English Major Female University Students (EMFUS) in Pakistan in conducting research in the sociolinguistics domain. Moving from the proficiency they acquire due to sociolinguistic knowledge in their communication and its effectiveness, there is a research need to see the practical implications of this at the prime point of their academic life, viz., conducting research. This article explores the research opportunities for the EMFUS in Pakistan by evaluating answers to the questions in the online survey. The study hypothesised researcher's identity is central to sociolinguistic education and training. The scope of sociolinguistics is widening with time, and so is the case with the research in sociolinguistic domains. Under several situations, researchers with specific identities give better results. Understanding this can lead to the success of research programs. Employing a researcher or interviewer in the context of this knowledge can take research to another height of perfection. In this article, we have discussed the significance of sociolinguistics for an EMFUS in Pakistan. We have tried to discover how a researcher's identity as an EMFUS affects the research results.