Exploring Intentionality behind Code-switching in Literary Fiction: A Comparative Study of “Amarbail” and “The Holy Woman”

Abstract

Code-switching in literary texts has become a prominent area of research because it is a deliberate practice that is not only on a conscious level but also contains many hidden intentions and objectives on behalf of the writer. This study aims to investigate the intentionality and markedness behind the practice of code-switching in Amarbail (An Urdu novel) and The Holy Woman (An English Novel) Written by Umera Ahmad and Qaisra Shahraz, respectively. The study is productive as it not only examines but also compares the degree of intentionality behind the code choices in Urdu and English novels written by Pakistani writers. Purposely, a mixed method approach has been utilized where quantitative analysis is dominant, and data is divided into two categories: marked and unmarked code-switching. For qualitative analysis, handpicked non-random sampling was employed to select data. Whereas for quantitative analysis, the frequency of all four categories has been calculated to give authentic results, the frequency of marked and intersentential code choices is calculated manually; on the other hand, the frequency of unmarked and intrasentential code choices is calculated by employing the mathematical formula of average. Theoretically, the insights have been taken from Myers-Scotton's (1998) Markedness model and Sperber and Wilson's (1988) Relevance Theory. The study concludes that whenever the writer shifts to the other language from the embedded language, the message at once becomes intentional, which arouses the readers’ attention. The results also show that marked and intersentential code-switching is loaded with purposeful and deliberate messages. In contrast, unmarked code-switching signifies normative linguistic patterns of a community and is relatively less planned. It is hoped that bilingual writers and researchers will find the results of this analysis opportune and beneficial for further research in this aspect.