Vol. 4, 21 February 2024
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The study discusses the variation in general (everyday) communication found in the Urdu lexicon in the previous 10 years. The research is qualitative, based on random interviews collected from Urdu speakers belonging to District Sanghar and Karachi from Sindh; and Lahore from Punjab. The study is based on the data provided by the interviewed participants who have rich experience and proficiency in Urdu. The article aims to find the changes in the lexicon of Urdu that include modifications in Urdu vocabulary by borrowing words and code-mix in communication. It discusses the causes of variations (technology, migration, and language imperialism) in detail and determines the status of language after these changes. It highlights the words used in Urdu speech whose equivalent alternatives are present in Urdu and those words that have died due to a lack of use of those words. It determines the impact of geography, modernization, globalization, and cultural coherence on language. It studies the changes in words used to call family members and friends and the changes in speech for communication between friends and family.
lexical variation, code-mixing, code-switching, borrowing words, style
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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