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Research Methodology Topic: Code Mixing in Pakistani English

Literature

Submitted to: Pro. Dr. Saiqa Imtiaz Asif

Submitted by:

Muhammad Aqeel Hayder

Roll #19

M.Phil English 2nd Semester

7/17/2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract Page 3

Literature Review Page 4

Introduction and Background of the Research Page 5

Statement of the Research Problem Page 6

Code Mixing and Code Switching Page 7

Aims and Objectives Page 8

Methodology Page 8

Code Mixing In Literature Page 9

Twilight Delhi by Ahmed Ali Page 9

Code Mixing in the Novel Page 10-13

Conclusion Page 14

References Page15

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ABSTRACT

The current paper reviews sociolinguistics studies on code-mixing, a well-known phenomenon

among speakers of dissimilar languages. Code mixing is a common phenomenon in the modern

bilingual and multilingual world. The propensity of code mixing is not constrained to spoken

discourse rather is apparent in the written discourse as well. Pakistan is also a multilingual

country. The motive is to highlight the use of code mixing in Pakistani English literature.

“Twilight in Delhi” a novel from Pakistani English literature has been selected for analysis.

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LITERATURE REVIEW:

Code switching is basically focuses on verbal communication among the habitants of bilingual

and multilingual societies. Traditionally, code switching is associated to informal settings, a little

has been written on formal linguistics production, i.e. , written literature. As Poplack (1980)

observes, may lay behind the implicit assumption that code switching is an informal speech style

that can only be observed in informal setting and that the group membership of the researcher is

a crucial factor for gathering code switching-data.

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH:

More than half population of the world is bilingual or multilingual. Bilingual or multilingual

means the ability to use two or more languages. Pakistan is also a multilingual country. More

than 70 languages are spoken in Pakistan while Urdu is the national language. Language is a

very sensitive issue in Pakistan, although Urdu is national language but English has very

prestigious status in the country.

Pakistani community is one of the largest English-speaking populations of the world and

approximately 49 % population (88.69 million people) can speak English. There are certain

factors which are involved for the significant impact of English on Pakistani community.

Pakistan English literature has great significance among other literatures.

This paper will focus on code mixing in Pakistani English literature. “Twilight in Delhi” by

Ahmed Ali has been opted as a sample for this purpose.

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STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM:

Pakistani community is regarded as multilingual and English language has great prestigious

status in our society. Pakistani English literature has also been impacted by code mixing. Due to

certain circumstances code mixing in every discourse is unavoidable particular in written

discourse. The nature of code mixing leads to the following questions

Is there any limit or restriction to code-mixing?

Is code-mixing really unavoidable in literature?

What are the needs and outcomes of code-mixing?

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CODE MIXINGAND CODE SWITCHING:

According to Wardhaugh (2010:p.98), code defined as the particular dialect or language one

chooses to use on any given occasion and the communication system used between two or more

parties. He asserts, “Most speakers command several varieties of any language they speak, and

bilingualism, even multilingualism, is the norm for many people throughout the world rather

than unilingualism”.

The speakers of multilingual societies use code mixing and switching as a linguistic norm. These

two processes of code alternation are called code mixing and code switching.

Code switching is a phenomenon which describes any switching among languages in

conversation at the levels of words and sentences. Whereas, code mixing defines mixing of two

languages at word level i.e. one word in the sentence is in a different language. (Baker and Jones,

1998).

However some sociolinguists do not make any distinction between these two concepts. Here are

some definitions of these two concepts for better understanding:

The practice of altering between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation

is called code mixing.

“The juxtaposition within the same speech exchange of passages of speech belonging to two

different grammatical systems or sub-systems”. (Li Wei, 2002, 2004; Gumperz, 1982).

“Mixing refers to the co-occurrence of elements from two or more languages in a single

utterance. Mixing includes single-word utterances from two languages during the same stretch of

conversation between a child and caregiver.” (Genesee, 1989).

“Code-switching is a verbal skill requiring a large degree of linguistic competence in more than

one language, rather than a defect arising from insufficient knowledge of one or the other ...

[R]ather than representing deviant behavior, [it] is actually a suggestive indicator of degree of

bilingual competence.” (cf. Grosjean, 2010, p57).

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this research is to prove that code mixing in not a grammarless activity rather it is

ruled governed activity at phrase and clause level.

This research explores that linguistics variations and changes are part and parcel of bilingual and

multilingualism. The data which has been analyzed shows that the use of various Urdu phrases

and clauses do not produce ungrammatical effect on the construction of syntactical structure

(English syntax).

METHODOLOGY:

A novel “ Twilight in Delhi” written by Ahmed Ali a renowned Pakistani English Writer has

been selected as a sample, all the chapters of the novel has been analyzed alongside the reasons

and motivations for code-mixing. Data has been analyzed only at the phrase and clause level.

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CODE MIXING IN LITERATURE:

Code-mixing is a common practice in bilingual and multilingual societies. As for as Pakistani

English literature is concerned local speech community and characters are depicted in literary

works and code mixing is carried out by these characters and existed context. The

sociolinguistics types, reasons and context of the code-mixing done by the characters are traced

down in this work which proves that sociolinguistics theories are not only applicable to real life

situations but also on the written representation of such situations by competent authors.

TWILIGHT DELHI BY AHMED ALI:

Novelist, poet, critic, diplomat, scholar, Ahmed Ali was born in Delhi in 1910. He was educated

at Aligarh and Lucknow universities. Ahmed Ali became famous in 1932 with the publication of

“Angary”. Ali’s Twilight in Delhi is a fine example of text as a historical document and

demonstrates various distinct perspectives.

Novelist, poet, critic, diplomat, scholar, Ahmed Ali was born in Delhi in 1910. He was educated

at Aligarh and Lucknow universities. Ahmed Ali became famous in 1932 with the publication of

“Angary”. Ali’s Twilight in Delhi is a fine example of text as a historical document and

demonstrates various distinct perspectives.

Twilight in Delhi is Ahmed Ali's first novel, originally published in English in Britain, 1940

In his novel Ahmed Ali narrates different aspects of the Muslim civilization in Delhi. He narrates

British colonialism, condition of Muslims in colonial India, past grandeur of Muslims and

cultural hybridity and linguistic problems which were faced by Indian Muslims.

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Code Mixing in the Novel:

During the analysis of the novel many examples have been found of code mixing. Intentionally

use of code mixing is made by Pakistani writers to give the work a local touch. Following are the

examples of code mixing in the novel:

“Here and there in every mohallah the mosques raises their white heads………………… Page 3

It was built after the great battle of Mahabharat by Raja Yudhishtra in 1453 B.C………...Page 4

Right in front is a low khota and under it two small rooms……………………………….. Page 6

Amma tell us what happened ………………………………………………………………Page 7

You were telling us the Farangis had turned all the Mussalmans out of the city….. ……..Page 8

Hai hai, what was it………………………………………………………………………..Page 12

The upper button of his sherwani are open……………………………………………....Page 13

Nisar Ahmed calling the morning azaan…………………………………………………..Page 17

Dhum ! Qalandar, God will give, ………………………………………………………...Page 18

He was dressed only in a shirt and pajama…….. …………………………………………Page 24

A moazzin from a nearby mosque raised his voice………………………………………...Page 30

And supplied the ghee himself………………….. ………………………………………...Page 39

…but all this did not disturb the equanimity of zenana…………………………………... Page 39

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They had all been expecting her, and when the kahars shouted…. ………………………Page 43

Begum Waheed had already got out of the doli…………………………………………...Page 43

It was past ten ‘O clock and from all around camethe strains of qawwali………………... Page 44

He used to smoke hookah then. …………………………………………………………...Page 45

Father consulted so many hakims………………………………………………………… Page 46

Nearby on the roof of Sheikh Fazal Elahi, karkhandar ………. …………………………Page 49

Hameed and asghar had played together and studied in the same maktab……………….. Page 51

But he also washed the Molvi Saheb’s dishes, swept the house…………………………... Page51

Came before his mind the picture of Budho, Durgi Chamari’s daughter ………………...Page 52

The loo hadbeen blowing ………………………………………………………………... Page 61

He began to sneeze loudly and shouted at the chamar…………………………………….Page 69

With difficulty Mir Nihal reached mardana,………………………………………………Page 69

When they reached Lal Darwaza………………………………………………………….Page 78

As he turned into Kucha Pandit, he saw the kababi closing his shop……………………...Page 78

He stopped to drink water from the sabeel……………………………………………….. Page 91

Assalaam-alaikum, Mir Saheb, he said from a distance…. ………………………………Page 93

Waalaikum-assalaam, Mir Nihal replied……….. ………………………………………..Page 93

He wore a tahmat with loud squares……………………………………………………...Page 100

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But no one like that whichthe faqir had shown me……………………………………...Page 122

There was an old iron-smith in that place who had become his uncle’s mureed………...Page 122

As he shout Allah-o-akbar went up a sudden quiet……………………………………... Page 130

At the shop of Mirz, the milk seller, the kababi, and the barber, the bania…………......Page 135

You should thank the angrezi sarkar …………………………………………………….Page 136

On his right, beyond the city wall, was the Khooni darwaza………………………….... Page 145

Accompanied with different songs, one for each occasion, sung by domins…………… Page 155

He cleared his throat; and on getting up and sitting down he muttered loudly ‘Ya Rasul Allah (O

Messenger of God)

There were also sehra and badhi in a separate tray …………………………………….. Page 163

The shohdays began to shout blessings and clamour for a tip…………………………....Page 165

She looks like a good-as –dead Farangan……………………………………………… Page 188

On the third day of Bakrid, he breathed his last………………………………………… Page 191

It’s not a chuga bur a dressing gown……………………………………………………. Page 192

The ‘iqbal’ of the British Government had started asserting itself……………………… Page 195

Begum Shahbaz sent for Pirji…………………………………………………………….Page 221

I free you of the debt of my mehr……………………………………………………….. Page 224

And the ghassals also charged much more……………………………………………… Page 232

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He was wearing English clothes and they began to mock him and shouted in his face: ‘Bol gai

My Lord kukroo-koon’…………………………………………………………………..Page 249

Yet everyone considered him a majzoob………………………………………………... Page 259

No, pulao has been cooked today, Hafizji. ………………………………………………Page 259

He walked into shouting. Kothay wali, kothay wali……. ………………………………Page 259

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CONCLUSION:

Code-mixing is associated with situational informality in which the switching has an unmarked

and positive function even if its semantic and cultural dimensions are also operating below the

level of conscious awareness

To conclude this research paper it is crystal clear that code mixing is not a grammarless

phenomenon. It is a systematic method. It is unavoidable in bilingual and multilingual societies.

Code mixing encompasses all the spheres of life including literature. Its importance cannot be

denied at any cost. Local contexts and issues are incomplete without code mixing. This

phenomenon is used to meet the lexical needs of a particular literary text.

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REFERENCES

www.aclclp.org.tw/clclp/v14n3/v14n3a3.pdf

www.glottopedia.de/index.php/Codemixing

www.grin.com/en/e-book/92496/code-switching-and-code-mixing

www.lingref.com/isb/4/039ISB4.PDF

Gumperz, J.J. (1976). The Sociolinguistic significance of conversational code-switching.

In J. Cook Gumperz and J. J Gumperz (Eds). Papers in language and context (pp. 1-26).

Berkeley: Language Behavior Research Laboratory.

Wardhaugh, R. (2010). An introduction to Sociolinguistics (6th Ed.) UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

Poplack, S. (1980).Towards a typology of code-switching. Linguistics. 18:581-618.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_in_Delhi