A study of code-mixing and code-switching (Urdu and Punjabi) in children’s early speech

Abstract

This research is analytical in nature and a comparative study of code-mixing and code-switching among the children of 2 to 5 belonging to educated and uneducated background. The focus of the research is how the children mix and switch Punjabi and Urdu in their early age. This study of code-mixing and code-switching in Urdu and Punjabi is found in educated and uneducated children’s recordings. Mostly the children mix single word insertion from Punjabi in their utterances during conversation. They also mix and switch the clauses and sentences of both the languages. The main work of this study is to quantify how much insertion of Single Word (Noun Insertion, Adjective Insertion, Adverb Insertion and Verb Insertion), of Phrase (Noun Phrase, Verb Phrase), of Clause and Sentence (Clause Insertion and Sentence Insertion). Hybridization of Single Word and Synthesis (Modes and Terms of Address, Repetition, Tags and Fillers) have also been identified. The reason why Punjabi is considered as study of code-mixing and code-switching with national language is that it is spoken not only at homes, but also outside in the surrounding of the children in the city of Sahiwal