CODE-MIXING ON FACEBOOK POSTS: A CORPUS-BASED ANALYSISOF LINGUISTIC PRACTICES IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION AMONGPAKISTANI YOUTH

Abstract

This paper examines the code-mixing phenomenon in online communication of the young people
of Pakistan, especially those on Facebook. The study analyses the two forms and the percentage of
language mixing, but also discusses the sociolinguistic background and motivations. The members of this
experiment included adolescents that were between 14-18 years of age and of different locations in
Pakistan, whereby the different linguistic and cultural groups are represented. Data was gathered by the
author through Facebook posts throughout the week and examined to find patterns of interchange
between Urdu, English and local languages. The result shows that code mixing has a variety of purposes,
among them expression of identity, cultural affiliation, and peer-group belonging, and the effect of
educational exposure. In addition to that, the social media dynamics platforms also promote the use of
flexible language and influence the way young users negotiate meaning and self-presentation. This work
is a contribution to the formation of digital spaces in modern Pakistan bilingual and multilingual.