Honouring Christopher Shackle: A Voice for an Overlooked Language in Pakistan
When Saraiki was largely overlooked in academic discourse and dismissed as a mere dialect, Professor Christopher Shackle recognized its linguistic richness and gave it scholarly form and global visibility. His landmark work, The Siraiki Language of Central Pakistan (1976), stands as the first full grammar of Saraiki published in English—bringing the language into the global academic fold and affirming its status as a distinct linguistic system. As a native Saraiki speaker and a researcher exploring the syntax and morphology of English, Urdu, and Saraiki, I remain deeply indebted to his intellectual legacy. Shackle did not merely record a language—he dignified it.
In the linguistic landscape of Pakistan, where regional languages often remain under-documented and academically neglected, the contributions of Professor Christopher Shackle stand as a beacon of scholarly dedication and cultural empathy. A British linguist and scholar of South Asian languages, Shackle made foundational contributions to the study of Saraiki, a language spoken by over 25 million people in Saraikistan, yet long overshadowed in both national discourse and linguistic research.
His seminal work, The Siraiki Language of Central Pakistan: A Reference Grammar (1976), remains the first full-length grammar of the Saraiki language in any Western language. Published by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, this 208-page reference grammar meticulously analyzes Saraiki phonology, morphology, and syntax, offering scholars and language planners a comprehensive and accessible framework for understanding the structure of the language (Shackle, 1976).
Earlier, in Sirāikī and Sirāikī Literature, c.1750–1900, in Upper Sind and South-West Panjab (1972), Shackle explored the historical development of Saraiki as a literary medium. This 506-page study delves into the literary evolution of Saraiki during a crucial period of cultural transformation, including the mystical and poetic traditions shaped by Sufi saints such as Khwaja Ghulam Farid (Shackle, 1972). These works collectively established the academic legitimacy of Saraiki as a distinct language and literary tradition.
At a time when Saraiki was often dismissed as a mere dialect of Punjabi, Shackle’s rigorous, respectful, and deeply informed scholarship helped elevate it to its rightful status as a language with its own grammar, literature, and cultural identity. His contributions laid the groundwork for subsequent efforts in Saraiki language planning, standardization, and literary promotion—efforts that continue to benefit from the solid foundation he established.
Professor Shackle’s work exemplifies the role that linguistics can play not only in documentation but also in cultural preservation and empowerment. For a scholar outside Pakistan to undertake such a comprehensive study of a marginalized South Asian language is both extraordinary and deeply commendable. His legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of academic responsibility in representing voices that history and power structures too often silence.
Pakistan’s intellectual community, particularly those working on regional languages and literature, owes a profound debt of gratitude to Professor Christopher Shackle—whose name will remain synonymous with the early scholarly validation of the Saraiki language.
References
- Shackle, C. (1972). Sirāikī and Sirāikī literature, c.1750–1900, in Upper Sind and South-West Panjab (506 pp.). London: School of Oriental and African Studies. https://glottolog.org/resource/reference/id/304634
- Shackle, C. (1976). The Siraiki language of Central Pakistan: A reference grammar (208 pp.). London: School of Oriental and African Studies. https://glottolog.org/resource/reference/id/160400
