Code-switching

Effect of Education and Language Proficiency on Code-switching



Abstract

Code-switching is the way of communication using elements of two or more languages in one phrase. We will be exploring the factors which affect attitudes to code-switching. We will gather the opinions about the code-switching in younger students. We will review the reasons given by the people for code-switching. We will be assessing the domains in which people carryout code-switching. We will also see if the proficiency in second language affect reported reason for code-switching.

Effect of Education and Language Proficiency on Code-switching

Introduction

In this paper we will discuss about the effect of education and language proficiency on code switching. Code-switching is a “bilingual communication strategy consisting of the alternate use of two languages in “the same phrase or utterance” (Wei, 2007, 495). Code-switching has become very common as the globalization has brought nations speaking different languages together. Western nations open their doors to immigrants moving from other countries who later called it their home (Ong, et al, 2010). They lived and raised their families here and some kept their traditions, especially language with them. Code-switching is observed in people who have good command of two or more language. They use words and expressions while conversation, keeping the syntax and other linguistics parameters of each language intact (McAlister, 2010). Some families have been raising the young ones with the present regions education and have not exposed their children to their previous culture because of which they seldom express their behavior (Rezaeian, 2009). We intend to research on this behavior in order to have a through understand of this phenomena. This project aims to investigate factors which affect code-switching and attitudes to code-switching.

Background

Bilingualism

Bilingualism is tendency to speak or communicate in more than one language. Globalization and openness of culture has promoted the people to be bilingual. Currently the bilingual population exceeds from monolingual population. The influence of Western countries in the third world country has developed entire educated population, who are fluent in at least two languages.

Code-switching

It is the phenomena which occurs when a bilingual or trilingual switches between languages while keeping the individuality of the language. It is most occurred while speaking and the carried out in informal gatherings.

Crystal in 1987 proclaimed that the code switching results in when a person having bilingual qualities, switches between the two languages while having a conversation with another bilingual person.

Types of Code Switching

Researchers have identified different types of codes switching and use the following description in defining them (Shan, 2009):

Inter-sentential Switching: This type of switching occurs beyond the structure of sentence or clause. Some scholars refer to it as “extra-sentential” switching.

Intra-sentential switching: These types of switching occur in between a sentence.

Tag-switching: It is the type of switching of which involves a word or a tag phrase or both from either of the languages.

Intra-word switching is a code switching which happens in side a word.

Literature Review

1-Wei et al. (2000)

A sociolinguistic research on the phenonmena of code-switching was carried by ...