LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 25:6 June 2025
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Echoes of Influence: A Sociolinguistic Insight into Hindi and English Influence on Brij Bhasha

Dr. Ravindra Goswami and
Dr. Neelam Yadav

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of Hindi and English on Brij Bhasha (Braj Bhasha), a prominent Western Hindi dialect spoken in the Brij region of Uttar Pradesh. The study analyzes linguistic interference, code-mixing, code-switching, and lexical borrowing at phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic levels. Through a combination of field data and phonetic analysis using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), this research highlights the dynamic interplay between Brij Bhasha and the dominant languages, Hindi and English. Brij Bhasha (also known as Braj Bhasha) is a culturally and historically significant dialect of the Western Hindi group, predominantly spoken in the Brij region encompassing parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Deeply rooted in the devotional poetry of Surdas and other Bhakti-era poets, Brij Bhasha carries immense literary value and spiritual resonance, particularly in Mathura, Vrindavan, and surrounding areas. Brij Bhasha, a historically rich dialect of the Western Hindi group, has long been the cultural and devotional voice of the Brij region, encompassing Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra, and surrounding areas. However, contemporary linguistic practices in the region reveal a gradual but profound transformation due to the growing influence of Standard Hindi and English. This research paper explores the sociolinguistic impact of these dominant languages on Brij Bhasha, focusing on lexical borrowing, code-switching, syntactic restructuring, and phonological adaptation. Using field data collected from native speakers across urban and semi-urban areas of the Brij region, the study employs phonetic transcription (IPA) to analyze language contact phenomena in everyday speech. The findings reveal a generational shift in language use, where Brij Bhasha is increasingly blended with Hindi and English in both formal and informal domains. Hindi contributes to morphological simplification and syntactic standardization, while English introduces modern, technical, and aspirational vocabulary. The study underscores the urgency of documenting and revitalizing Brij Bhasha as a living dialect. It concludes that while language change is natural, strategic efforts are essential to preserve linguistic diversity and regional identity in the face of cultural globalization and educational homogenization.

Keywords:Braj Bhasha, code-mixing, code-switching, lexical borrowing

Introduction

Brij Bhasha holds significant literary and cultural relevance, especially in the Braj region encompassing Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra, and parts of Bharatpur and Aligarh. However, due to educational, administrative, and social changes, Hindi and English have become dominant languages in both formal and informal spheres. This has led to noticeable linguistic interference in the form of borrowing, code-mixing, and even structural modifications in native speech. This paper aims to examine the sociolinguistic outcomes of this contact. Despite its rich heritage, Brij Bhasha today faces increasing marginalization due to the sociolinguistic dominance of Hindi?the official language of India?and English, the language of aspiration, education, and global mobility. This research paper aims to provide a comprehensive sociolinguistic analysis of the dual influence that Hindi and English exert on Brij Bhasha. The study investigates the nature and extent of lexical borrowing, code-switching, syntactic restructuring, and phonological adaptation in Brij Bhasha speakers, particularly in urban and semi-urban contexts. Language contact phenomena are examined not only at the linguistic level but also through a socio-cultural lens, reflecting the shifting attitudes, aspirations, and identities of native speakers. The research explores how Hindi, through media, education, and governance, acts as a dominant contact language, gradually reshaping the grammatical and lexical structure of Brij Bhasha. Concurrently, English introduces modern and technical vocabulary, infusing Brij discourse with new semantic dimensions and prestige markers. The analysis is supported by phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), making the shifts traceable and quantifiable. Through this study, we seek to highlight the ongoing transformation of Brij Bhasha, not as a vanishing dialect, but as a dynamic and adaptive linguistic system negotiating space within a multilingual environment. The findings also underline the urgent need for linguistic documentation and revitalization strategies to preserve this treasured vernacular of Indian cultural identity.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Ravindra Goswami
Assistant Professor, Seth G.B. Podar College, Nawalgarh (Raj)
goswami.raaj23@gmail.com &
Dr. Neelam Yadav
Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Agra
dr.neelam2012.yadav@gmail.com
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