CODE-MIXING IN UZBEK-ENGLISH BILINGUAL COMMUNICATION
Abstract
This study investigates the phenomenon of code-mixing in Uzbek-English bilingual communication among young speakers in Uzbekistan. The research focuses on identifying the structural patterns and communicative functions of English lexical insertions in Uzbek discourse, particularly in digital and informal communication contexts. A qualitative sociolinguistic approach was employed, and data were collected from social media interactions, online messaging, and everyday conversations of 40 bilingual participants. The findings reveal that insertional code-mixing is the most common pattern, especially in the use of technological, academic, and internet-related vocabulary. The study also demonstrates that code-mixing serves important social functions such as identity expression, prestige, communicative convenience, and representation of modernity. Furthermore, the research highlights the significant role of social media in promoting bilingual language practices among young Uzbek speakers. The study contributes to sociolinguistic and bilingualism research by providing insights into the growing influence of English on contemporary Uzbek communication.
Keywords
code-mixing, bilingualism, Uzbek-English communication, sociolinguistics, multilingualism, social media, language contact, digital communication
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