English Code Mixing in Maithili FM Programs

Abstract

This thesis entitled "Code Mixing in Maithili FMs : A Descriptive Study" is basically descriptive and partly explanatory. The objectives of the study were to find out English Code-mixing in the Maithili language based programmes in Janki FM and Mithila FM radio programmes in Nepal, its nature and to find out the attitude of the audiences related to the FM radio programmes as for English Code-mixing. The sample population consists of only the three programmes of equal nature based on telephone conversation from each of the selected FM radio programmes and forty (40) regular listeners of the readio programmes covering the different cross-sections of social life: Language diversity (Maithili vs Nepali), Sex diversity (male Vs female) and age diversity (young Vs old). The tools for the data collection were audio cassette recording, oral interview along with questionnaire. After collecting data the analysis and interpretation have been prepared in the three dimensions: Structural, Functional and Attitudinal in general. As for structural aspect, expressions of word level have the highest frequency and sentence level have the least frequency in mixing in the study. Similarly, expressions related to various language functions appear in mixing. For socializing purpose speakers tend to mix English codes mostly. Likewise, they also do so, for other functions. The audiences of the FM radio listeners had given their views as for English code mixing and the views were in the mixed form. The cross life styles of the audiences cause discrimination in their thoughts. A large number of Maithili mother tongue audiences think English code mixing in the Maithili language was not good. They said English mixed affected the originality of the Maithili language adversely. On the other hand, Nepali audiences were less critical about the English mixing in the FM radio media. Finally, as for the impact of English mixing in the Maithili language concerned; the audiences agreed that it had negative impact in the society. Thiss thesis contains altogether four chapters. Chapter one deals with the introduction with of general background, code switching and code mixing, types of code switching, difference between code switching and code mixing, factor leading to code switching and code mixing, mass media in Nepal, review of related literature, objectives of the study, significance of the study, definition of specific terms ix and fundamental of language structures and language function. Chapter two deals with methodology. It encompasses source of data, population of the study, sample population, tools for data collection, process of data collection and limitations of the study. Chapter three consists of analysis and interpretation of the required data. It consists of four parts. Part one deals with the finding and classification of mixed English expressions, part two deals with the frequency analysis of the mixed expressions, the third part deals with the underlying system and conditioning factors in the code mixing and the last part deals with the attitude analysis of the audiences. The data are analyzed on the basis of percentage and they are presented on the table. Chapter four presents the summary of findings and recommendation.