Language use patterns and ethnolinguistic vitality of the Shina speaking Gurezi immigrants.

Ethnolinguistic vitality has emerged as an important empirical framework to examine the linguistic identity of ethnic groups, especially small migrant ones. The likely survival of an ethnic group as a distinct linguistic entity is based on factors like demographic patterns, its status in inter-group setting and institutional support the group receives. Besides language use patterns of a group also contributes towards its vitality. The present article reports the findings of a survey undertaken to examine the ethnolinguistic vitality of a small immigrant ethnic group in the valley of Kashmir. During the study, it was observed that in intergroup setting where a large and prestigious group dominates a small group in almost every public domain, language use patterns of the latter can be a significant factor in contributing towards its vitality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]