English Code-Mixing in Brahui Radio Broadcasts: A Quantitative Analysis of Lexical Borrowing and Media-Driven Language Shift

Abstract

In multilingual Pakistan, English code-mixing in media reflects broader sociolinguistic hierarchies (Rahman, 2019). This study examines the phenomenon of English code-mixing in Brahui-language radio broadcasts, focusing on its frequency, patterns, and sociolinguistic implications. Utilising a quantitative approach, the research analyses 36 transcribed recordings from the Khuzdar radio station, categorising instances of code-mixing across different grammatical elements. The findings reveal that nouns account for the highest proportion of English insertions (62.9%), followed by adjectives (15.4%) and verbs (11.2%), while pronouns, conjunctions, and exclamations occur at much lower frequencies. This distribution suggests that English is primarily integrated into Brahui discourse for technical, professional, and administrative terms, particularly in news, governance, healthcare, and education-related discussions. The study aligns with linguistic theories of code-mixing, particularly Myers-Scotton’s Matrix Language Frame Model (2009), which posits that bilingual speech communities borrow content words while preserving native grammatical structures. The research also highlights the role of media in shaping language perceptions, as radio discourse normalises English lexical borrowing, potentially influencing younger generations and urban speakers. While the findings indicate that Brahui remains structurally intact, the increasing presence of English in formal domains raises concerns about language shift and the long-term impact of globalisation on minority languages. This study contributes to South Asian sociolinguistics by providing empirical insights into English influence on Brahui media discourse. Given the limitations of data scope and media representation, future research should explore listener perceptions of code-mixing, generational differences in bilingualism, and potential shifts in Brahui syntactic structures. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for preserving linguistic diversity while navigating the challenges of globalisation and bilingual communication.