AN ANALYSIS OF OVERWHELMING TRENDS OF ENGLISH CODE-MIXING AMONG PROFESSIONALS IN PAKISTAN

 

 

Mahmood Ahmad Azhar¹, Muhammad Waqas², Tenzila Khan³

¹Dr., Lahore Leads University, dr_azhar1@yahoo.com

²Lahore Leads University, mwaqas569@gmail.com

³Lahore Leads University, tenzila2012@gmail.com

 

 

Abstract

Present study sets out to investigate the phenomenon of code-mixing in the Pakistani multilingual and bilingual society. Since the Independence in 1947 there has been somewhat harmonious coexistence of English and Urdu, the state language, in Pakistan, which is a monolingual country at national level. But substantial command over English is considered as a linguistic passport to the arena of globalization and competitive professional job market, especially the non-government ones. It is also considered as necessary element for socio-economic upward mobility. The growing of multinational companies along with the private ones in the recent years has acted as a socio economic factor underlying the increasing consciousness in learning English. This job related factor has given English language the status of a career oriented language with a colonial touch of aristocracy and high prestige. So there is an increasing trend among Pakistani professionals to learn English not only for mutual communicative purpose but also to compete in the job market. Now in Pakistan English is associated with better professional job, which earns a person better social prestige. Here, a person’s socio-professional identity can be better understood from the nature and amount of his spoken language. Mostly service holders and professionals are found to mix Urdu and English in their conversation. This article is mainly based on investigating the deliberate conversational code mixing in the repertoire of Pakistani professionals. Research findings reflect the increasing interest of Pakistani community in English language.

 

Keywords: Bilingualism, Code Mixing, Global language vs native language, Professional repertoire