Hinglish: code-switching in Indian English

In this issue's Text Messages, we look at Indian English and in particular at the use of Hinglish: code-switching between Hindi and English. Western audiences have seen some examples of code-switching in the well-known film Monsoon Wedding; here we look at the much more extensive use of code-switching in a popular Hindi film. Our commentator is Pingali Sailaja from the University of Hyderabad, who is the author of Indian English (Edinburgh University Press 2009). Jab We Met, a ‘blockbuster’ Hindi film released in 2007, is interesting for its use of language and in particular, for the manner in which Hindi–English code-switching is used throughout the film. Hindi–English code-switching is popularly known as Hinglish and has been written about and commented on in various articles. This paper comments on the use of English in this film.