Code-mixing in Chhattisgarhi Conversation of Undergraduate Students

Abstract

This paper investigates code-mixing in Chhattisgarhi based on conversation collected from the undergraduate students in the district of Gourella-Pendra-Marvahi (GPM). In India, lexical items from other languages are often mixed in most of the Indian languages since it is a multilingual country. In fact, this happens in Chhattisgarhi conversation by mixing English words in various situations. English language is used in India as second and foreign language in different places. So, the possibilities of mixing English words in Chhattisgarhi are commonly found in the spoken data. Code-mixing is a phenomenon in the society in which speakers mix words for various reasons. This paper focuses on the nature of code-mixing, the significance of code-mixing, how Chhattisgarhi undergraduate students mix English words, phrases, idioms, baster forms and clauses and the reasons for code-mixing in their Chhattisgarhi conversation. In this study, data was collected from twenty Chhattisgarhi undergraduate students at Pandit Madhav Rao Sapre College in Pendra Road of GPM district. Descriptive qualitative method was used and the informal conversations were collected from undergraduate students in different situations. The data was collected from the students through the audio-recorder in the natural settings. The recorded audio has been transcribed in IPA script, analyzed and discussed in detail in this paper. The participant of one of the researchers also helped to draw on first-hand observation through her membership in the community. The findings reveal that undergraduate students mix considerably English words, phrases, baster forms and clauses in Chhattisgarhi conversation. It is also identified that certain Chhattisgarhi case markers were attached to the English words and the insertion of sounds were found within the words i.e., intra-lexical code-mixing which leads to change the actual pronunciation of the word. The findings disclose the attitudes and opinions of undergraduate students while mixing the English elements and the main reasons for code-mixing in Chhattisgarhi conversation.