Abstract: Language is not merely a tool for communication; it serves as a dynamic repository of culture, memory, and identity. Among multilingual communities, chutnefying—the blending of two or more languages into a fluid, hybrid expression—has emerged as an effective medium of cultural expression. This paper examines chutnefying not only as a linguistic phenomenon but also as an expression of lived experience, a ground for social negotiation, and a form of creative agency. Driven by histories of migration, colonial encounters, and globalization, chutnefying enables speakers to inhabit multiple cultural spheres simultaneously, creating an environment in which tradition and modernity converge.

    Drawing on examples from Indian diasporic communities, Caribbean chutney music, Bollywood cinema, and contemporary digital media, this study documents how chutnefying functions as a deliberate artistic and social strategy. It empowers speakers to validate their identities, evoke humor, bridge generational divides, and challenge established linguistic hierarchies, while fostering innovative aesthetic forms. Far from a corruption of language, chutnefying demonstrates the endurance, adaptability, and richness of culture, revealing how linguistic fusion can illuminate the complexities of human experience and the creativity of communities navigating a multifaceted world.