Code Switching Essay

AbstractThough enrol re definement research may motley from background to context and situation to situation, the common factors for codification switching pass on be threefold. That is, jurisprudence switching deals with styles in contact. In interactive favorable situations cipher switching will be the uptake of to a greater ex ten-spott than maven quarrel For object lesson the interaction during various tender events involving interlocutors who know more than one and only(a) language. With these common factors of order switching this paper looks into the Malayanansian context with special thrust to the various reasons involved for encrypt switching during the well-disposed interactions. Data for the present paper were salt away from the Tamil speaking undergraduate students of the University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. Their interaction in diverse identified domains involving three languages viz.Tamil, Malay and side were looked into. Gumperz (1982) while discus sing the communicatory control of enrol switching, claims that the utterer plays upon the alliance of the we-code to work conversational effect. Thus code switching is seen as fulfilling the relative and referential operations of language that amounts to useful communication and interlingual unity. Apart from this function of code switching ,this paper could identifies several new(prenominal) reasons for code switching in the situations under study.Communicative functions and Reasons for Codeswitching Malaysian Perspective .Code switching is an commonplace reality in every place where more than one language is spoken in everyday communications. Many 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 undergraduate students in the University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.The information were collected from these students while they were interacting in different domains viz. classroom, university campus, family, market, neighborhood etc. In all these domains they have to interact with Malay and Chinese speakers apart from as well as with different Tamil speakers. It is ob servingd that all the students from whom the data were collected be competent to a plastered extent in Tamil, Malay and English.Communicative Functions of CodeswitchingGumperz (1982) when discussing communicative functions, mentions the discourse function of codeswitching, also beseeched the personalization function of language. A speaker plays upon the con nonation of the we-code to create a conversational effect. Thus, code switching is seen as fulfilling the relative and referential function of language that amounts to effective communication and i nterlingual unity.Halliday (1975) on the other hand, views code switching as fulfilling the interpersonal function of communication. Here the mixed language spoken plays the fictitious character of a mediator. In other in testifyigence activitys, it is the use 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 convey some(prenominal) accessible and linguistic nubs. Gumperz (pg. 144, 1982) dips examples of situations created to convey importee as given down the stairsto appeal to the literateto appeal to the illiterateto convey precise nubto ease communication, i.e., utilizing the shortest and the easiest route to negotiate with greater authorityto capture attention, i.e. stylistic, emphatic, ruttishto emphasize a visorto communicate more effectivelyto call with a particular groupto close the status gapto assemble goodwill and supportKaren Kow (2003) listed in her article a few doable conditions for code switching. Some of the conditions given are, lack of one contrive in either languageSome activities have however been recognised in one of the languages Some concepts are easier to express in one of the languagesA misunderstanding has to be clarified unrivaled wishes to create a certain communication effectOne continues to speak the language latest utilise because of the trigger effect One wants to make a drumheadOne 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 pronounce 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. A nother example is a condition where the speaker, intending to express group solidarity, employs code switching. 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 spare- eon activity ten functions have been described in the professional literature (Malik, 1994)Lack of expertnessLack of RegisterMood of the SpeakerTo emphasize a pointHabitual ExperienceSemantic importTo show identity with a groupTo verbalise a different audiencePragmatic reasonsTo realize attention.1. Lack of facility According to Malik (1994), bilinguals or multilinguals a good deal explain that they code switch when they cannot find an appropriate expression or vocabulary contingent 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 (touching feet) that does not convey the comparable 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 practically 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 instance 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 every bit competent in two languages and when the speakers do not know the price 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, lawyers, engineers while they interact amongthemselves owing to the fact that neat full terms in Hindi or in any other language other than English may not be acquirable to them. As a result, they utilize the English terminology that they are old(prenominal) 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 justly to an object or a character. The use of the exact terminology or vocabulary is of the essence(p) in this setting when the terminology plays an important role and has the potentiality to make a major impact on keep 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 inkling analyzer test. The alcohol test was conducted, i.e., a breath analyzer testThe term breath analyzer is in English rather than in the intercellular substance language, Bahasa Malaysia, simply because of its context-bound significance.3. Mood of the speaker Malik (1994) claims that usually when bilinguals are tired or angry, code switching takes place with a new dimension. This kernel, when the speaker is in the right state of mind, he/she can find the appropriate 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 g etting 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 used to emphasize a point. gallon (1979) reports several instances in which a switch at the end of an leaning 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 environment to show how a fend for 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 umbrage Semenjak itu OKT telah berumahtangga, mempunyai kerja tetap dan insaf. Before this, OKT was caught in 1975 and 1 986..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 accost and 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 savvy 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 saman?Is this an arrest case or a cite 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 imagination that builds on participan ts perception of two languages. Lexical prize 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 subject language and the official language at Malaysian courts, to English as a face saving gestureKenapa kamu tak setuju, panggilan pertama telah dijawab oleh BG Boy dan dah tentu coney 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 that Italian immigrants would tell a joke in English and give the punch situation 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 patently they mix codes or switch codes accordint to the ethnicity of the addressee. One reason for such use of mixed languages is to address simultaneously persons from different linguistic backgrounds. Also, the speaker all the way 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 go on it is a clear recitation 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 a nswer?The code switch is important as the judgment is dependent on the argument of the lawyer