Passage2013, 1(2), 1-10

The Use of Code Switching in Twitter

(A Case Study in English Education Department)

By:
Widya Novianti
English Language and Literature Program
(E-mail: [email protected] / Mobile: 081320328373)

ABSTRACT
This study explores some important issues, namely the occurrences of code
switching types, languages used, and the reasons why the respondents switch their
language in communicating in Twitter. The study involved the students of English
Education Department who had already signed up as Twitter users as the
respondents. In this study, the data were the tweets used by the respondents and
the responses of the questionnaires. To identify code switching types in the
tweets, Poplack’s framework (1980) was applied. Moreover, the theories proposed
by Hoffman (1991) and Saville-Troike (1986) were used as the basis of
interpretation to investigate the reasons why the respondents switch their language
in Twitter. The data (selected tweets and questionnaires) were analyzed by several
steps, namely identifying the occurrences of code switching from the tweets,
classifying the code switching in the form of tables, quantifying the frequency and
the percentage of code switching, and analyzing and discussing the data obtained.
The results show that there are three types of code switching, seven language
combinations and six reasons of the use of code switching in Twitter. In terms of
the type, intra-sentential switching tends to be the most frequent type of code
switching (56.67%). In relation to language combinations used in the tweets,
Indonesian-English is likely to be the most frequent language combination
(73.33%). Moreover, in relation to the reason, real lexical need may be considered
as the main reason to switch the language in Twitter (60%).

Keywords: Code Switching, Twitter, Twitter Users, Tweets

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 Widya Novianti
The Use of Code Switching in Twitter (A Case Study in English Education Department)

INTRODUCTION use more than two languages.

Communication is an Scotton (1993) cited in Mesthrie
important aspect in society today. (2008) argues that multilingual
People need each other to speakers may switch languages
communicate in order to convey their according to situations in a way that
needs and to share what they feel monolingual speakers switch styles
even if they come from different of the same language natively. Since
areas and have their own language. people are involved in multilingual
In spite of the differences that they communication, it is possible for
have, they try to learn how to them to code switch their speech.
establish and maintain a good They who live in a bilingual or
relationship in communicating each multilingual community have a
other. tendency in using code switching in
When people interact with their speech towards the conversation
others in society at anytime and in order to make a good
anywhere, they must use a language. communication each other.
Without a language, people will find Nowadays, switching
some troubles when they do their languages is commonly used because
activities. In the world with different it often occurs in daily conversation
languages, people learn and use two such as on the radio, on the
or more languages in order to be able television, and even on the internet.
to interact with others. According to Internet is one of the most popular
Wardhaugh (2006), the preceding communication tools. It gives many
phenomenon is known as advantages for people, especially to
bilingualism, while the latest is communicate with others. People
recognized as multilingualism. As tend to use internet to keep in touch
stated by Sinulingga (2009) that a with people they know through one
bilingual individual is a person who of facilities in the internet named
can speak two languages. social networking. Up to the present
Meanwhile, multilingual individual time, there are several social
can be defined as a person who can networking that are widely used by

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people, for instance Friendster, CODE SWITCHING

Tagged, My Space, Facebook, Code switching is a sociolinguistic
Twitter, and so forth. Twitter which phenomenon in which two or more
was founded by Jack Dorsey, Biz language varieties are used in a
Stone, and Evan Williams in March speech community. Code switching,
2006 is a social networking that as Poplack and Sankoff (1984) state,
allows its users to post their latest is simply the alternate use of the two
updates (CrunchBase, 2012). Twitter languages in discourse. Additionally,
contains simple features to be used people are generally aware of the
by millions of people. Those who use differences in the strength of the
Twitter often update their tweets, languages that they use, especially
texts made by Twitter users in people who speak more than one
composing the messages (Kelsey, language, or who have control over
2010), in different language styles more than one variety of any
which will be responded by others in language (Meyerhoff, 2006).
the same pattern of language. Furthermore, Meyerhoff states that
Regarding the explanations people are equally aware that in
above, the study is conducted to some contexts one variety will serve
explore some important issues by their need better than another. The
conducting the use of code switching variety shows different styles of a
in Twitter. This study observes the language that people use depending
types of code switching, the on where they are, who they are
languages used, and the reasons of talking to, and what kind of
using code switching in impression that they want to
communicating shown on Twitter. communicate to the other people.
The result of the study is expected to Switching from one language
give valuable knowledge in code to another provides different ways in
switching and to enrich the literature conveying messages. Wardhaugh
collection of the related theories (2006) says that selecting a particular
employed in the present study. code is usually required by people
whenever they choose to speak and

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 Widya Novianti
The Use of Code Switching in Twitter (A Case Study in English Education Department)

they may also decide to switch from language for different purposes.
one code to another even sometimes They may also use different dialects
in very short utterances and so create of a language in different contexts.
a new code. Code switching occurs As a result, people in some
between speakers’ turns or within a communities choose different
single speaker’s turn in a languages regarding to the situation
conversation. It can happen not only that demands them to speak.
from individual choice but also from With respect to the focus of the
a group of speakers who must deal study on code switching in Twitter,
with more than one language in their there are three types of code
common knowledge. switching (based on Poplack’s notion
Code switching is an everyday of code switching, 1980) that can be
reality in every place where more observed in the selected tweets.
than one language are spoken in Poplack (1980) suggests that there
everyday communications. Language are three types of code switching,
serves a range of functions in namely tag switching (the insertion
communication. This statement is in of a tag, exclamation, and certain
line with Holmes (2001: 2) who says phrases in one language that is
that “language is used to ask for and inserted into an utterance that is
give people information”. This entirely in another language), inter-
shows how language is used to sentential switching (takes place
express annoyance as well as between clause or sentence boundary
admiration. Language provides much in which each clause or sentence is in
information that makes the use of one language or other), and intra-
language different across different sentential switching (takes place
communities. Every community has within a clause or sentence
its own style in communication. boundary).
Holmes (2001) states that people People sometimes use code
from different communities may use switching by considering the social
different pronunciations, circumstance they engage to. As
vocabularies, grammar, or styles of a Holmes (2001) states that when there

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is some obvious change in the command, and the necessity of real

situation, such as the arrival of a new lexical need.
person, it is easy to explain the
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
switch. Furthermore, she says that
This study was conducted as a case
code switching may be related to a
study by using a qualitative
particular participant or addressee.
approach. According to Robson
Thus, the speaker may switch the
(2002) cited in Cohen et. al. (2007),
language in conversation for social
case study looks at a phenomenon in
reasons. There are several important
its real-life context. Thus, this study
reasons that are considered by the
is used in order to explore the
speaker in using code switching.
phenomenon of code switching
Hoffman (1991) states that there are
found in Twitter. It describes types
seven reasons to switch the
of code switching found in the
languages, namely the need to talk
selected tweets. Then, the study
about a particular topic, the necessity
presents the languages that are used
of quoting somebody else, being
by the respondents in code switching
emphatic about something, the
found in the selected tweets.
essential of using interjection, the
Afterward, the study also elaborates
need to use repetition for
the reasons why the respondents use
clarification, the necessity of
code switching in communicating in
intention in clarifying the speech
Twitter.
context for interlocutor, and the need
The data were collected from
to express group identity. To support
the tweets of thirty Twitter users.
Hoffman’s theory, there is also
The tweets were purposively chosen
another theory proposed by Saville-
considering the needs in trying to
Troike (1986 as cited in Cakrawarti,
find the tweets related to the present
2011). The theory gives several
study. The researcher took two
additional reasons for people to
tweets from each thirty Twitter users
switch their language, namely
from June until September 2012.
softening or strengthening request or
After collecting the data of code

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 Widya Novianti
The Use of Code Switching in Twitter (A Case Study in English Education Department)

switching in the tweets, Types of Code Switching in the

questionnaires were used as the other Selected Tweets
instrument. The questionnaires
consist of two kinds of question. The Based on the data, there are three
first question is formulated in the types of code switching found in the
form of multiple choices. The second selected tweets, namely tag
question is formulated in the form of switching, inter-sentential switching,
open questions to give the and intra-sentential switching.
respondents more freedom in Generally, the distribution of code
expressing their feelings, especially switching types is presented below.
their personal thought.

Types of code switching in the selected tweets

No. Types Frequency (F) Percentage
1. Tag Switching 3 5%
2. Inter-sentential Switching 23 38.33%
3. Intra-sentential Switching 34 56.67%
Total 60 100%

From sixty tweets, the most nonton Perahu Kertas. Above

frequent type of code switching used average, but just another
by the respondents is intra-sentential Indonesian romantic movie. He
switching (56.67%). The example of used Indonesian as the base language
this type can be seen from tweet in the first sentence. Then, he used
written by @female12, liat city lights English in the next sentence. Thus,
dari ketinggian itu sweet. She this tweet is classified into inter-
inserted English, city lights and sentential switching. The least
sweet, in the middle of her frequent type of code switching used
Indonesian sentence. Then, inter- in the tweets is tag switching (5%). It
sentential switching is in the second can be seen from tweet written by
place (38.33%). The example of this @female6, Oh Gosh! Pusing gini
comes from @male12, baru beres ngeliatin komputer mlulu. She

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Passage2013, 1(2), 1-10

inserted an English interjection, Oh Based on the data, there are

Gosh, into Indonesian sentence. seven language combinations of code
switching found in the selected
Languages Occurences on the tweets. Generally, the distribution of
Selected Tweets language combinations is presented
below.
Language combinations in the selected tweets
No. Language Combinations Frequency (F) Percentage
1. Indonesian – English 44 73.33%
2. Indonesian – Sundanese 8 13.33%
3. Indonesian – Arabic 3 5%
4. Indonesian – Palembangnese 1 1.67%
5. Indonesian – Korean 1 1.67%
6. Indonesian – English - Sundanese 2 3.33%
7. Indonesian – English – Arabic 1 1.67%
Total 60 100%

From sixty tweets, the most language combination comes from

frequent language combination used @female3, ‘dan sampai pada
by the respondents is Indonesian- obrolan Habbluminallah dan
English (73.33%). @male7 wrote habbluminannas’. Next language
cinta hakiki itu seperti strategy bola combination used is Indonesian-
Spanyol, tik tak, feedback seimbang, English-Sundanese (3.33%). The
main pendek (no LDR/crossing example of this is written by
ball), gol sederhana. This tweet @female 10, abis mandi, baca BBM.
contains language combination of Oiado nian yang nak ngerusak
Indonesian and English. The second mood ini. Suingke tula rrrr. She
language combination is Indonesian- switched her language into
Sundanese (13.33). The example of Palembangnese in her last sentence
this is written by @male15, semalem of the tweet. The least frequent
mimpinya udah pake bahasa inggris language combinations are
lah aing, gaya. Then, it is followed Indonesian-Palembangnese,
by Indonesian-Arabic (5%). The Indonesian-Korean, and Indonesian-
example of Indonesian-Arabic English-Arabic (1.67%).

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 Widya Novianti
The Use of Code Switching in Twitter (A Case Study in English Education Department)

by Hoffman; 1991 and Saville-

Reasons of Code Switching in Troike; 1986) found in the
Twitter questionnaires. Generally, the
Based on the data, there are six distribution of code switching
reasons of code switching (proposed reasons is presented below.

Reasons of code switching in the selected tweets

Frequency
No. Reasons Percentage
(F)
1. The need to talk about a particular topic 4 13.33%
2. The essential of an interjection 3 10%
The necessity of intention in clarifying the
3. 2 6.67%
speech context for interlocutor
4. The need to express group identity 1 3.33%
The need to soften or strengthen request or
5. 2 6.67%
command
6. The necessity of real lexical need 18 60%
Total 30 100%

From thirty answers of the essential of an interjection (10%).

questionnaires, the most frequent They used this reason because it is
reason of code switching admitted by sometimes spontaneous in using
the respondents is the necessity of certain words in English, for example
real lexical need (60%). Based on the thx. Then, the necessity of intention
questionnaires, there is sometimes an in clarifying the speech context for
expression that cannot be expressed interlocutor and the need to soften or
by using Indonesian. Thus, code strengthen request or command
switching is used because of lack of (6.67%) are the next reasons. They
respondent’s vocabulary in one admitted that code switching is used
language. The next reason used is the to communicate with their
need to talk about a particular topic interlocutor, in this case in Twitter.
(13.33%). The respondents admitted Besides, their friends from abroad
that they feel more convenient by can understand what they mean if
using English when expressing their using a global language. In term of
own feelings. The third reason is the the need to soften or strengthen

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request or command, they use it to Department. Thus, they prefer to do

avoid rude sense and tickle heard code switching to develop and apply
from certain words in certain their skill especially in English. They
languages. The least frequent reason also switch into English because
of code switching used by the most of their friends use English in
respondents is the need to express their tweets so that they
group identity (3.33%). One of them communicate in the same language.
admitted that code switching is used In this study, real lexical need seems
to express his identity which is to be the main reason that triggers
Sundanese. Twitter users to do code switching.
Based on the respondents’ responses
CONCLUSIONS AND from the questionnaires, it could be
SUGGESTIONS because of the lack of vocabulary so
From the study, it can be that they use another language to
concluded that the most frequent express things.
type of code switching used in the For further research related to
selected tweets is intra-sentential this study, it is suggested that further
switching. Based on the tweets, most studies may focus on the use of code
Twitter users tend to switch at the switching performed by other
level of words and phrases by students of English Education
emphasizing a certain word. Then, Department in various semester and
regarding to the result of the in different setting. It is not only in
questionnaires, most Twitter users the social network setting but also in
use English as their language the daily conversation setting or
combination. This shows the other written literary works, such as
background of the respondents who novels, films or drama scripts.
major in English Education

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 Widya Novianti
The Use of Code Switching in Twitter (A Case Study in English Education Department)

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