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Code Switching

Code switching refers to alternating between two or more languages or language varieties in the context of a single conversation. It is a common practice in multilingual communities where speakers share two or more languages. Code switching occurs for various reasons such as giving respect to a new conversation participant, changing topics, accommodating a new third person present, gaining an advantage in negotiations, or adjusting to a new situation. It is studied by linguists to understand when and why bilingual speakers switch between languages.

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Fariz Ardiansyach
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37 views

Code Switching

Code switching refers to alternating between two or more languages or language varieties in the context of a single conversation. It is a common practice in multilingual communities where speakers share two or more languages. Code switching occurs for various reasons such as giving respect to a new conversation participant, changing topics, accommodating a new third person present, gaining an advantage in negotiations, or adjusting to a new situation. It is studied by linguists to understand when and why bilingual speakers switch between languages.

Uploaded by

Fariz Ardiansyach
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Code Switching

In communication, especially in speaking, a speaker


may switch from one language to another, or from a
certain variety to another variety of the same
language.

Code switching (also code-switching, CS) is the


practice of moving back and forth between two
languages or between two dialects or registers of the
same language at one time.
Code switching occurs far more often
in conversation than in writing. It is also called code-
mixing and style-shifting. It is studied by linguists to
examine when people do it, such as under what
circumstances do bilingual speakers switch from one
to another, and it is studied by sociologists to
determine why people do it, such as how it relates to
their belonging to a group or the surrounding context
of the conversation (casual, professional, etc.)

Code-switching is a linguistic phenomenon which occurs


in multilingual speech communities. The term describes
the process in which a communicatively competent
multilingual speaker alternates or switches usually
between two languages or language varieties or codes
during the same conversation.

Bilingual communities use certain strategies to make


communication more effective and meaningful. One of
these tricks is "code switching," which we can observe
mostly in second- or foreign-language classes. Code
switching refers to the use of two languages within a
sentence or discourse. It is a natural conflation that often
occurs between multilingual speakers who have two or
more languages in common.

Code switching occurs mostly in bilingual communities.


Speakers of more than one language are known for their
ability to code switch or mix their language during their
communication.

There are reasons for doing so, among others are:

1. Giving respect
When I am talking with my brother using Indonesian
language, suddenly my father comes to us. I directly
switch from Indonesian Javanese to respect my father.
2. Changing the topic
I and my students are talking in Indonesian, talking
about daily life, then our topic changes to Linguistics.
We suddenly use English for this purpose.
3. The presence of the third person
I and my brother are talking in Javanese, but suddenly
a friend from Sumatra comes. We switch to Bahasa
Indonesia for our chat.
4. Winning the deal
I am speaking with you in Bahasa Indonesia. Then we
go to Bringharjo market. There I switch to Javanese to
bargain things. By using Javanese I hope I can buy
things with lower prices.

5. Changing situation.
I am talking with you outside the classroom in Bahasa
Indonesia, Then, we come to our classroom. We switch
to English for having a formal class.

Kinds of Code Switching


1. Situational Code Switching occurs when the
language change accompanies a change of topics
or participants.

2. Metaphorical Code Switching occurs within a single


setting, but adds meaning to such components as
the role-relationship which are being expressed.

Exercise:

1. What is the difference between code mixing and code


switching?
2. Your instructor often switches from Indonesian to
English, or vice versa. Why does he/she do that?

(Write down your answers and saved them to be collected


later.)

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