Social Factors and Pashto-English Codeswitching: The Case of English as Embedded Language in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: The present research investigates the use of English codeswitching about the social factors which influence the use of English in the Pashto language. First, the focus of the study lies on the social factors e.g., style, interlocutors, topic, social distance, social status, and identity, etc., and their influence on English codeswitching in the Pashto language.
 Methodology of the study: The data was collected with the help of a questionnaire consist of 13th statements. The data collected were further analyzed with the help of quantitative and qualitative methods employing descriptive analysis, SPSS 15, and the percentage method.
 Main Findings: The dominant pattern of codeswitching was insertion with nouns the most frequent codeswitching item. The study indicates that education is the key factor that influences English codeswitching and it also shows that Pashto is the dominant language of communication and is used as a symbol of solidarity and social marker in the Pashto speech community. 
 Application of the study: The researcher can extend this study of codeswitching to a different contact setting such Pashto-Urdu and Pashto-Punjabi. The density of bilingualism is expected to give different types of codeswitching patterns.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is the pioneer study that focused on the effect of social factors on the selection of language in bilingual settings.