Resumen de Language mixing on radio (mis)understood
The commercial Sinhala-medium FM radio practice of code-mixing between Sinhala and English is criticised by some of the mainstream Sinhala-speaking groups of Sri Lanka as unrestrained and thus causing the degeneration of the native language of Sinhala. Regardless of this disapproval, this new style of code-mixing has now spread into the FM media audiences, particularly its youth groups, among whom it is a daily linguistic reality. A previous study explored the nature of this new mode of code-mixing set off against conventional code-mixing of Sinhala-English bilinguals of the country. The present paper makes an attempt to consolidate the findings of the study through a combination of theories, one which explores the Extra Linguistic Power ascribed to some languages or language varieties while marginalising others, and the other on Language as Resistance. Quantitative tools were employed to compare the linguistic features of FM code-mixing and conventional bilingual code-mixing. A qualitative description is provided of the way these differences are perceived by the relevant groups. Thus, the study presumes to communicate important information about the motives and driving forces behind language standards, media agendas, audiences and the dynamics of language policies and practices in Sri Lanka.
