"THE WHY OF THE SWITCH: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF URGAIZI (CODE SWITCHING) IN SELECTED NOVELS OF UMERA AND NEMRAH AHMED"

Abstract

This research investigates the Antecedents of code-switching or Urgaizi that are evident in PEER E KAMIL and MUSHAF written by Umera Ahmed and Nemrah Ahmed respectively. The research attempts to find the reasons  for the incorporation of English elements into Urdu narrative and dialogue rather than focusing on the number and structural patterns of code-switching. According to the motivational categories formulated by Hoffman (1991), the study intends to classify the motivations that drive one toward that specific linguistic practice and to examine how this reveals a deeper social, emotional, or identity-related functions.

Using qualitative content analysis, the research investigates the selected texts where English words, phrases, or sentences appear into Urdu discourse. It was found from the study that Urgaizi marks signifying group identity, emotional nuance, educational background, or social hierarchy that often have purposeful meanings. Code-switching transcends as merely a stylistic device. It operates also as meaning creation strategy reflecting the evolving linguistic and cultural identities of contemporary Pakistani society.