MULTILINGUAL CODE-SWITCHING IN UZBEKISTAN: SOCIAL DYNAMICS AND REGIONAL COMPARISONS

Abstract

This article examines the cultural, social, and linguistic dimensions of code-switching in Uzbekistan, where the native Uzbek language intersects with Russian and the growing global influence of English. Analyzing these dynamics in a comparative Central Asian context, the study demonstrates how alternating between languages serves as a vital social marker of identity, educational background, and socio-economic prestige. While code-switching facilitates cognitive flexibility and functions as a strategic pedagogical tool in multicultural classrooms, it also reinforces existing social hierarchies and creates challenges for educators balancing linguistic inclusion with language mastery. Ultimately, the paper highlights how code-switching allows individuals to navigate shifting power structures, migration impacts, and generational changes to articulate hybrid, multifaceted identities.