Diachronic Linguistic Variation in Pakistani and British Press Editorials

A Comparative Study Across Biber’s Textual Dimensions

Abstract

This study explores diachronic linguistic variations in Pakistani and British press editorials by applying Biber’s 1988 multidimensional model of textual variation across five key dimensions. By comparing diachronic data from Pakistani press editorials (1947-2016) and British press editorials (1900-1993), the research highlights linguistic differences stemming from cross-cultural variation and readership demands. Utilizing quantitative and functional methodologies, the analysis reveals distinct linguistic characteristics in both registers, such as variations in informational production, narrative versus non-narrative trends, explicit versus situation-dependent discourse, overt versus covert persuasive expression, and impersonal versus non-impersonal style. The study underscores how Pakistani editorials exhibit unique features influenced by the non-native variety of English, while British editorials demonstrate evolving trends within their native linguistic context. This research also serves as a foundational step towards developing a comprehensive diachronic corpus of Pakistani English and offers insights into the broader linguistic evolution of newspaper editorials.