Linguistic Alienation and Colonial Language Hierarchies in South Asian Fiction

Abstract

The legacy of colonial language policies continues to shape linguistic hierarchies and social identities in South Asian societies. English, introduced and institutionalized during colonial rule, has retained a privileged position in education, administration, and professional life, often functioning as a marker of prestige and social mobility. At the same time, indigenous languages remain closely tied to cultural identity and everyday communication, creating complex tensions for individuals navigating multilingual environments. This study examines the representation of linguistic alienation and colonial language hierarchies in South Asian fiction. Through textual analysis, the research explores how literary narratives portray the relationship between language, power, and identity in postcolonial contexts. The analysis highlights how characters experience psychological and social alienation when required to adopt the colonial language in order to access institutional opportunities while maintaining emotional attachments to their native linguistic communities. The study also investigates how educational institutions, social interactions, and cultural expectations reinforce linguistic stratification within fictional narratives. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that many South Asian authors challenge these hierarchies by incorporating multilingual expressions and foregrounding the cultural richness of indigenous languages. By examining literary representations of linguistic conflict and identity negotiation, the study contributes to broader discussions within postcolonial literary studies regarding the enduring impact of colonial language structures on contemporary cultural and social realities.