Hinglish on A Platter: A Toast To New Global Bhasha

Abstract

The world is in transition, and no language will remain same. There is no language in the world that can claim to be pure, permanent and safe in its structure. Changes are inevitable. Languages will change and incorporate new patterns of contact with other languages and the changing communication needs of the people.

The code switching and code mixing are very well known traits in the speech pattern of an average bilingual in any human society the world over. As a multilingual and multicultural society, India is not an exception. Hinglish, a combination of Hindi and English has become a new medium of masses in India. It is a wonderful medley of arbitrary words from Hindi and English and enjoyed effortlessly and spontaneously in different domains. It is widely practiced in houses, offices, markets, playgrounds and almost everywhere The resurgence of Hindi in the recent years is one of the prime movers of Hinglish in India and it has given a tremendous boost to its functional relevance in the present linguistic environment. Hindi no longer considers English as its archrival. The equation has changed globally. English and Hindi have come closer and they deliver just perfect, when they work in tandem. Now, it is a winning blend. This blend becomes a new mantra in social acceptance, prestige, and success. It has a great cementing force that connects people and places equally with ease. The paper draws together the different threads of Hinglish, its origin, growth and traces the various reasons that lead to its pervasiveness in India and abroad.