Code Switching Essay

AbstractThough mandate droping research may vary from context to context and situation to situation, the vernacular factors for code switching entrust be threefold. That is, code switching serve ups with vocabularys in contact. In moveive affectionate situations code switching will be the social function of more than one linguistic process For example the interaction during various social events involving interlocutors who know more than one language. With these common factors of code switching this publisher looks into the Malayan context with special thrust to the various reasons involved for code switching during the social interactions. Data for the present paper were collected from the Tamil speaking undergraduate students of the University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. Their interaction in different identified domains involving three languages viz.Tamil, Malay and English were looked into. Gumperz (1982) while discussing the communicatory function of code switching, c laims that the speaker plays upon the connection of the we-code to force chatal upshot. Thus code switching is seen as fulfilling the relational and referential functions of language that amounts to effective communication and interlingual unity. Apart from this function of code switching ,this paper could identifies several other reasons for code switching in the situations under have.Communicative functions and Reasons for Codeswitching Malaysian Perspective .Code switching is an all(prenominal)day reality in every place where more than one language is spoken in everyday communications. M any scholars have studiedextensively about the patterns of code switching and the reasons for code switching. The present paper discusses the communicative functions of code switching and also the sociolinguistic, cultural and pedagogic reasons for code switching in the Malaysian context. Data for the present study were collected from Tamil speaking University students who have enrolled as u ndergraduate students in the University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.The selective information were collected from these students while they were interacting in different domains viz. classroom, university campus, family, market, neighborhood and so on In all these domains they have to interact with Malay and Chinese speakers apart from as well as with other Tamil speakers. It is observed that all the students from whom the data were collected are competent to a certain extent in Tamil, Malay and English.Communicative Functions of CodeswitchingGumperz (1982) when discussing communicative functions, mentions the discourse function of codeswitching, also called the personalization function of language. A speaker plays upon the connotation of the we-code to get a conversational effect. Thus, code switching is seen as fulfilling the relational and referential function of language that amounts to effective communication and interlingual unity.Halliday (1975) on the other hand, debates cod e switching as fulfilling the interpersonal function of communication. Here the mixtureed language spoken plays the role of a mediator. In other words, it is the enforce of language to act as a mediator between self and participants in the communicative event.In fulfilling the relational and referential functions, code switching is seen as the medium to post both social and linguistic meanings. Gumperz (pg. 144, 1982) lists examples of situations created to convey meaning as given belowto appeal to the literateto appeal to the illiterateto convey precise meaningto ease communication, i.e., utilizing the shor interrogatory and the easiest route to negotiate with greater authorityto capture attention, i.e. stylistic, emphatic, emotionalto emphasize a pointto communicate more efficaciouslyto identify with a particular groupto close the status gapto establish goodwill and supportKaren Kow (2003) listed in her article a few thinkable conditions for code switching. Some of the condit ions given are, lack of one word in either languageSome activities have sole(prenominal) been experienced in one of the languages Some concepts are easier to express in one of the languagesA misunderstanding has to be clarified bingle wishes to create a certain communication effectOne continues to speak the language latest apply because of the trigger effect One wants to make a pointOne wishes to express group solidarityOne wishes to exclude another person from the dialogue.Kow suggests that from the list above, it may be possible to predict which conditions act on a particular sociolinguistic context for codeswitching, for example, when a person who lacks a word in English due to limited vocabulary code switches by using the lexical component from his/her first language instead of English. Therefore, the function here is to overcome the language barrier to meaning-making. Another example is a condition where the speaker, intending to express group solidarity, employs code switchi ng. The function for the switch in this case is to establish goodwill and rapport. Similarly series of conditions can be established for the phenomenon of code switching depending on the social context.Such communicative functions of codeswitching can also be listed according to the functions that they try to accomplish. Among these, the following ten functions have been described in the professional literature (Malik, 1994) inadequacy of FacilityLack of RegisterMood of the SpeakerTo emphasize a pointgeneral ExperienceSemantic significanceTo place identity with a groupTo portion out a different audiencePragmatic reasonsTo attract attention.1. Lack of facility According to Malik (1994), bilinguals or multilinguals very much explain that they code switch when they cannot reclaim an enchant expression or vocabulary event or when the language of conversation does not have the particular word needed to carry on the conversation smoothly. He offers the example of Charan Sparsh (tou ching feet) that does not convey the same meaning in the speakers code as it does in Hindi. The reason for switching may however be culturally conditioned and David (2003) notes that an alien concept often has a speaker switch to the language from which the concept is borrowed. For example, like the lexical item social drinker in English that is unacceptable in a Malay situation because of the simple fact that drinking alcohol is prohibited in Islam and the Malay-Muslim world does not have a word for it that is equivalent to its meaning in English. Hence, the phrase social drinker is directly borrowed and used as an eccentric of phrase level mixing as in the following exampleSaya difahamkan bahawa OKS jarang minum, hanya seorang social drinker I understand that OKS seldom drinks, he is only a social drinker2. Lack of register When speakers are not equally competent in two languages and when the speakers do not know the terms in two languages, then codeswitching occurs. For example , college students often code switch by moving from Hindi to English. In certain occupations code switching takes place in the speech of doctors, attorneys, engineers while they interact amongthemselves owing to the fact that proper terms in Hindi or in any other language other than English may not be available to them. As a result, they utilize the English terminology that they are familiar with. Thus, one can identify a great deal of lexical code mixing.As David (2003) notes, it is vital for a courtroom setting in Malaysia that a specific terminology be used to refer decent to an object or a character. The use of the exact terminology or vocabulary is important in this setting when the terminology plays an important role and has the authorization to make a major impact on life and death, freedom or imprisonment. Therefore, whichever the code is that enables the speaker to get his/her exact meaning across will be the one that is acceptable to the interactants including one where language mixing occurs. The following example cited by David is to the pointUjian alcohol telah dijalankan iaitu breath analyzer test. The alcohol test was conducted, i.e., a breath analyzer testThe term breath analyzer is in English rather than in the matrix language, Bahasa Malaysia, simply because of its context-bound significance.3. Mood of the speaker Malik (1994) claims that normally when bilinguals are tired or angry, code switching takes place with a new dimension. This means, when the speaker is in the right state of mind, he/she can find the attach word or expression in the base language. Very often he/she knows exactly the word in both the languages (X and Y) but the language Y may be more available at the point of time when the speaker has a disturbed mind. Such circumstances may create a hurdle in getting the appropriate word or phrase in the language in which the speaker may be more proficient if he is not mentally agitated.4. To emphasize a point Switching is also u sed to emphasize a point. Gal (1979) reports several instances in which a switch at the end of an argument not only helps to end the interaction but may serve to emphasize a point.She has taken an example from English/German code switching and stressed that switching from English to German is a means of adding more force to the statement. Meanwhile, David (2003) uses the courtroom surroundings to show how a defending lawyer uses dominant Bahasa Malaysia to start with and shifts to English to emphasize an important point to the judge that the accused had not committed any crime for 10 years.Sebelum ini OKT pernah ditangkap pada tahun 1975 dan 1986. There has been a 10 years gap since the last offence Semenjak itu OKT telah berumahtangga, mempunyai kerja tetap dan insaf. Before this, OKT was caught in 1975 and 1986..since then OKT has married and has held a steady job5. Habitual experience Malik.(1994) stresses the fact that code switching often occurs in fixed phrases of greeting a nd parting, commands and request, invitation, expressions of gratitude and discourse markers such as Oyes (listen), you know or pero (but), whereas Hoffman (1971) reports that in Puerto Rican homes, the incur gives short commands to their children in English, such as Dont do that. and the rest of the mothers warning will be in Spanish.David (2003), in turn, cites an example of habitual mixed discourse in a Malaysian courtroom where the dominant or matrix language is Bahasa MalaysiaKes merupakan arrest case atau kes rain tree?Is this an arrest case or a summons case?6. Semantic significance Malik (1994), Gumperz (1970, 1976, 1982), and Gumperz and Hernandez (1972) all stresses that switching at a particular moment conveys semantically significant information. It is a communicative resource that builds on participants perception of two languages. Lexical choice conveys meaning during codeswitching. Gal (1979) reinforced this view by stating that listeners interpret codeswitching as an indicator of the speakers attitude, or communicative intents and emotions as code switching is a tool for conveying appropriate linguistic and social information.By the same token, David (2003) describes a range of speech acts like reprimands, directives, requests, and warnings that are conveyed by using different intricate strategies to show the semantic significance in certain specific situations. It is not only the lawyer who code switches, but also the judge. The example below shows how a judge shifts from Bahasa Malaysia, the field language and the official language at Malaysian courts, to English as a face saving gestureKenapa kamu tak setuju, panggilan pertama telah dijawab oleh BG son dan dah tentu Das mesti menanya di manakah BG Boy berada? Kamu tak faham soalan, saya maksudkan Why dont you agree Bg Boy responded to the first call and surely Dos asked where he was ? You do not understand the question, I mean.7. To show identity with a group Di Pietro (1977) reports tha t Italian immigrants would tell a joke in English and give the punch line in Italian, not only because it was better said in Italian but also to stress the fact that they all belong to the same minority group, with shared values and experiences (cited in Malik, 1994).8. To address a different audience Malik (1994) states that code switching is also used when the speaker intends to address people coming from various linguistic backgrounds. For example, in India the television announcer often uses Hindi as it is the national language but also switches to English. Also, he often repeats the same in English for South Indians or Indian people who do not know Hindi.Similar types of situations have also been reported in some other settings. Linguistic reinforcement often takes place even in courts, according to David (2003) where counsels tend to speak to a number of different interlocutors at the same time. During such occasions obviously they mix codes or switch codes accordint to the et hnicity of the addressee. One reason for such use of mixed languages is to address simultaneously persons from different linguistic backgrounds. Also, the speaker clearly distinguishes whom he/she addresses and what should be communicated. Hence,the speaker uses part of the sentence in one language and the other part in another language. In the example below the lawyer used a mixed discourse of English/Malay, and the part of his utterance in English is directed to the judge and the other in Malay is meant for the witness.Objection, ada dua fakta di sini.The facts of the chart sheet are clear it is a clear indication of misinformation. mana satu nak jawab? Objection, there are two facts here. The facts of the chart sheet are clear its a clear indication of misinformation. Which one do you want to answer?The code switch is important as the judgment is dependent on the argument of the lawyer