ECONOMIC AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC RESPONSES TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted global economic systems and societal norms, exposing vulnerabilities that impede progress toward sustainable development goals. The crisis has revealed substantial gaps in how societies communicate and manage economic policies, especially in linguistically diverse communities. Misinformation and inadequate communication strategies have led to widespread confusion and non-compliance with health measures, exacerbating the pandemic's negative effects. Economically, the pandemic has resulted in severe job losses, reduced income, and increased poverty, undermining efforts to achieve sustainable development. This study investigates the intersection of economic impacts and sociolinguistic responses to the pandemic, highlighting how communication strategies and economic policies have influenced public behaviour and policy efficacy. The paper employs situational analysis to examine data from various economic sectors and linguistic communities, revealing that ineffective communication, especially among diverse linguistic groups, has exacerbated misinformation and hindered compliance with health measures. Economically, the pandemic has led to widespread job losses, reduced income, and increased poverty, undermining efforts to achieve sustainable development. The findings indicate that the negative sociolinguistic effects, coupled with the adverse economic impacts, present significant barriers to achieving sustainable development goals. The study recommended that developing inclusive communication strategies that cater to linguistic diversity and implementing economic policies that prioritize equity and sustainability to build resilience will ensure progress towards sustainable development in future crises.