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Code Switching - Introduction

The document discusses code-switching, which is defined as switching between two or more languages in a conversation. Code-switching is common in bilingual communities and classrooms where students may switch between their native language and the target language being learned. While some educators prefer that only the target language be used, code-switching can help students communicate more effectively and express ideas more easily, especially for those learning English as a second language. Researchers have found that code-switching is an indicator of the level of bilingualism in a community and the speaker's access to different languages.

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21 views

Code Switching - Introduction

The document discusses code-switching, which is defined as switching between two or more languages in a conversation. Code-switching is common in bilingual communities and classrooms where students may switch between their native language and the target language being learned. While some educators prefer that only the target language be used, code-switching can help students communicate more effectively and express ideas more easily, especially for those learning English as a second language. Researchers have found that code-switching is an indicator of the level of bilingualism in a community and the speaker's access to different languages.

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astro ha
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Introduction

In everyday life, language plays a crucial role in communicating with others as it allows speakers
to express their thoughts, feelings, opinions, and their needs to others. With the increasing
globalization of languages, bilingualism has become a widespread phenomenon in today's
world. Bilingualism, or as we hear the term bilingual means the ability to used two languages.
Many linguistic study dealing with language code issues is closely related to bilingualism. The
term was first introduced by Bloomfield (1935, p. 56) who describes bilingualism as the ability
to use two languages, or to have "native control over two languages.

In bilingual communities around the world, speakers often switch from one language to another
to meet their communication needs. This switching between languages is called code switching.
Code switching (CS) is a frequent phenomenon in various language usage situations. The
process of students using their native language while speaking in the target language. Interest
in code switching has increased significantly due to the development of modern society,
increasing globalization, increasing interdependence of different ethnic groups, and migration
processes. Individuals use code switching for a variety of reasons. One is to communicate
thoughts more efficiently and effectively. Another reason is that students especially those using
English as a second language states that it is easier to express ideas and thoughts when using
code switching. In classroom setting it is observed that students during recitation and reporting
tends to use two language in a conversation to explain their views about the topic. Researchers
noticed that most English-speaking students seem to be accustomed to code switch because it
is convenient and allows them to be confident.

Definition of Code-switching

Code switching is generally defined as switching "between two or more languages, either
simultaneously or interchangeably within a conversation" (Grosjean, 1982, p. 145). Sert
(2005)states that code switching is a widely observed phenomenon especially seen in
multilingual and multicultural communities. In ELT classrooms, code switching comes into use
either in the teachers’ or the students’ discourse. Although it is not favoured by many
educators, one should have at least an understanding of the functions of switching between the
native language and the foreign language. There are two opposing sides to the problem of code
switching in language teaching. On the one hand, there are teachers who prefer to stick to
formal rules of second language learning. This forces students to speak only in the target
language and to practice communication skills in order to become proficient in the language.
This view is supported by Taha (2008), who states that several teachers and students were
involved in the study. However, language teachers who support bilingual education in the form
of code-switching believe it can be very helpful to students in many ways, especially when
teaching beginners (Sert, 2005).

Code switching is gaining increasing attention in the field of second language acquisition as it
has important implications for second language acquisition theory. Nilep (2007) states that the
term code switching has been used in studies of language acquisition, second language
acquisition, and language learning to describe the cognitive linguistic ability of bilingual
speakers or language learners, or to use more language. used to describe teaching or learning
practices that than one language” (p. 1). It is also ``an indicator of the level of bilingualism that
exists within a particular community and, more broadly, the level of access a speaker has to the
source language'' (Sayahi, 2011, p. 114).

Reference;

Grosjean, F. (1982). Life with two language. An introduction to bilingualism. Cambridge, MA: Harvard
University Press.

Nilep, C. (2006). Code switching in sociocultural linguistics. Colorado Research in Linguistics, 19(1), 1-22

Sayahi, L. (2011). Code-switching and language change in Tunisia. International Journal of the sociology
of language, 2011(211), 113-133

Sert (2005). The Functions in Code-swtiching in ELT Classrooms. The Internet TESL Journal, 11 (8).
Retrieved on 5 August, 2011 from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Sert-CodeSwitching.html

Taha, T. A. (2008). Language Alternation in University Classrooms. Journal of Instructional Psychology,


35(4), 336-346. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

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