Language Attitudes and Ideologies: A Critical Review with Reference to Dogri

Sunil Kumar, Dr. L R Prem Kumar

Abstract: This paper critically examines language attitudes and ideologies with specific reference to Dogri, a regional Indo-Aryan language of Jammu and Kashmir, India. While Dogri enjoys constitutional recognition as one of India?s scheduled languages, it continues to face marginalization in education, administration, and media. The study argues that this paradox, i.e., official recognition alongside social neglect - stems from deeply rooted language ideologies that equate English and Hindi with progress, prestige, and upward mobility, while relegating Dogri to the sphere of cultural tradition and domestic use. Drawing upon theoretical insights from Fishman (1972), Woolard & Schieffelin (1994), and Bourdieu (1991), the paper situates Dogri within a multilingual ecology where linguistic hierarchies and institutional structures shape speakers? perceptions and usage patterns. It further highlights how educational marginalization, media invisibility, and aspirational attitudes collectively produce negative or ambivalent orientations toward Dogri. A critical review of previous studies on language use and preference reveals that these attitudes are not merely individual choices but manifestations of broader sociopolitical ideologies. The paper concludes that revitalizing Dogri requires not only policy reforms but also an ideological reorientation-where speakers revalue their mother tongue as a symbol of identity, heritage, and cultural modernity.

Keywords: Language attitudes, Language ideologies, Dogri, Multilingualism, Language shift, Linguistic prestige, Sociolinguistics, Identity

How to Cite?: Sunil Kumar, Dr. L R Prem Kumar, "Language Attitudes and Ideologies: A Critical Review with Reference to Dogri", Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 70-74, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251029143917, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251029143917