Uzbek–English Code-switching in Social Media Communication: Structural Patterns and Linguistic Features

ABSTRACT:

Code-switching is a widespread linguistic phenomenon in bilingual and multilingual communities. In the modern digital era, social media platforms have become spaces where bilingual speakers actively mix languages in everyday communication. This article examines the structural and linguistic characteristics of Uzbek–English code-switching in social media discourse. The research focuses on lexical insertion, grammatical integration, and syntactic patterns that appear when Uzbek speakers incorporate English elements into online communication. The study demonstrates that English lexical items are frequentl y integrated into Uzbek sentences while Uzbek grammar remains dominant. The results also indicate that code-switching reflects broader sociolinguistic processes such as globalization, digital culture, and the increasing importance of English in educati on and professional communication.

Keywords: Code-switching, Bilingualism, Social media discourse, Uzbek language, English language, Linguistic analysis.