A Comparative study of Pronominal Choices in the Discourse on Environmental Degradation Among Pakistani and Bangladeshi Students in Austria

Abstract

The present paper analyses the pronominal choices in the discourse of international students on environmental degradation. The comparative analysis reveals that each interviewee has his/ her own preference towards personal and possessive pronouns. Each interviewee has switched from one pronoun to another, which reveals their multiple identities. The use of I and its variants has been used to indicate individual opinions and views. With respect to We and its variants, they are used to show inclusion in multiple communities, and at the same time to foster the idea of shared responsibility. With respect to the second person pronoun, the audiences are varied. Similarly, they and its variants are used to refer to multiple actors who can play their role in overcoming environmental degradation. Moreover, the collocation network for each pronoun aids in understanding the meanings carried by each pronoun.