Code Switching Patterns of Pakistani Undergrad Students: A Study About Effects of English and Urdu on Punjabi Speaking Students

Abstract

This research paper studies the code switching patterns of Pakistani undergrad students from Punjabi speaking families. It is generally observed that students coming to universities from various rural and urban families tend to use simultaneously English, Urdu and Punjabi words while speaking in their casual environment or with peers. However, they may restrict themselves to only speaking Urdu or English while in a formal academic set up like a classroom. It is also observed those students with Punjabi as their mother tongue may unconsciously sometimes pick and use Punjabi words in their speech in a formal set up; where otherwise English or Urdu is spoken mostly as a medium of instruction. The methodology for this research paper is mainly observation, interviews and survey; making it Holistic in nature i.e. both qualitative and quantitative. The number of students selected for surveys were fifty with at least one parent who is Punjabi speaking. The interview was conducted in Punjabi language in an informal setting and the respondents were allowed to speak in any language(s) convenient to them. The number of interviewees was seven. The data collected from surveys is represented via area and bar charts along with theoretical analysis. The recorded interviews were first transcribed and then written in Roman besides their analysis. The frequency of words switched in English and Urdu were also taken account of. This paper will also discuss some possible reasons of code switching with its positive and negative implications on Punjabi language.