Code Switching and Mixing Trends in Text Messaging: Exploring Gender Differences

This study analyzes the gender difference in switching and mixing of the codes in English and Urdu languages in text messages composed by undergraduate students. The sample for this study was randomly collected and the research used the code switching and code mixing theories as tool of analysis. The research reveals that males and females do not considerably differ in the ways specified by cultural stereotypes. The result of the study is helpful in finding answers to the questions that may not be obtained through interviews and observations. It is found that males and female students tend to switch and mix to English for education and prestige and at the same time for euphemistic purposes. It suggests that extensive code-switching and code mixing may lead to entirely novel linguistic varieties.