CODE SWITCHING

Code Switching among Saudi University Students on Social Networking Sites

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION2

1.1 Background of the Research Problem2

1.2 Problem Statement5

1.3 Objectives of the study5

1.4 Research Questions6

1.5 Significance of the study6

1.6 Limitation of the study7

CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW8

2.1 Definitions of Code Switching8

2.2 Types of Code Switching9

2.3 Code Switching, Code Mixing & Borrowing10

2.4 Attitude of People towards Code Switching10

2.5 Social reasons behind using code switching12

2.6 Attitude of students towards code switching13

2.7 Chapter Summary13

CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY15

3.1 Research Approach15

3.2 Data Collection & Research Instrument15

3.3 Ethical Considerations16

References17

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Research Problem

Information Technology has reshaped the modes of communication. The advent of World Wide Web has connected the far ends of the globe. People, living in distinct regions, are connected through the Internet. In the recent years, the discussion of social media has penetrated into the breadth of online community. In this regard, Web 2.0 tools have facilitated the fundamental idea of social media. Web 2.0 has enabled great level of users' interaction through blogs and media. Traditionally, the static pages have no means of users' interactions. With Web 2.0, online social communities have been developed. Social networking has become a cultural norm. A number of social networking sites have been developed, in order to facilitate communication between distinct segments of a community. Individuals, from all ages, want to explore this online world of social networking. The usage of social networking sites is not limited to teens & youngsters; rather adults & professionals are investing their time in communicating through these online platforms. The main reason for its wide acceptance is that people want to communicate with ease. For that matter, people prefer using Internet for the sake of convenience. This allows them to stay connected with people living at far ends of the world. Further, it allows them to seek professional benefits.

Social Media networking has influenced the activities & interests of social set ups. The idea is not merely about staying connected but also about expanding the social relations. Individuals expand their social relations with people, having distinct backgrounds, ethnicity, professional affiliations, and culture. Nilep (2006) communicated, “Social media platforms have gained popularity; it is because the second generation of Web has realized the needs of a globalised world” (p. 12). Al-Jabre (2013) investigated the social networking norms in the context of social movements. The study investigated the social networking usage in the Arab countries. The author conveyed that the social media trends are constantly rising in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the same research, the author highlighted the exchange of opinions over the social movements. With the evolution of social networking, the users' demands have been refined. It should be noted that social networking websites have been mainly developed in English language. However, the developers have invested sufficient time in introducing multiple language support. In this way, different languages can be supported at the same time. In the year 2008, there were only 18% users who were older than 35 years (Al-Jabre, 2013, ...