From words to worlds: language, identity, and transgenerational change in Gujjars and Bakerwals, the transhumant pastoral tribe of Jammu and Kashmir

This study explores the intersection of language, identity, and transgenerational change within the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, a transhumant pastoral tribe in Jammu and Kashmir. The study examines how linguistic practices reflect and influence the socio-cultural cognition of three generational cohorts—elders (F1), middle-aged adults (F2), and youth (F3)—amidst systemic pressures of assimilation and modernization. The study identifies distinct linguistic patterns tied to migration, education, and folk culture using qualitative data from focus group discussions and ethnographic observations. The findings reveal that F1 prioritizes terms associated with nostalgia and collective belonging, F2 expresses ambivalence amidst socio-political transitions, and F3 demonstrates a forward-looking identity that seeks to integrate tradition with modernity. This dynamic interplay underscores language as a medium for cultural continuity and adaptation. The study contributes to sociolinguistics and cultural cognitive science by illustrating how language serves as both a repository of cultural memory and a tool for negotiating identity in the face of systemic change.