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0000 Advances in Language and Literary Studies

ISSN: 2203-4714
Vol. 7 No. 3; June 2016
Flourishing Creativity & Literacy
Australian International Academic Centre, Australia

Levels of Code Switching on EFL Student’s Daily Language;


Study of Language Production
Zainuddin
English and Language Literature Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Medan, Indonesia.
E-mail: zainuddin.gayo52@yahoo.com

Doi:10.7575/aiac.alls.v.7n.3p.278 Received: 24/02/2016


URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.7n.3p.278 Accepted: 14/04/2016

Abstract
This study is aimed at describing the levels of code switching on EFL students’ daily conversation. The topic is chosen
due to the facts that code switching phenomenon are commonly found in daily speech of Indonesian community such as
in teenager talks, television serial dialogues and mass media. Therefore, qualitative data were collected by using diary
notes and semi structure interview techniques. As the results, there were 15 examples of the code switching collected
from the students’ daily conversations, and there were 4 reasons why the students tend to switch codes. In conclusion,
by using the general linguistics form, the students produced three levels of linguistics structure in code switching
namely word level, phrase level and sentence (clause) level.
Keyword: Code Switching, Language Production and EFL Students
1. Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Nowadays, bilingual or multilingual cannot be avoided in daily language especially in youth daily language. It is called
code switching. Code switching (CS) has become an interesting phenomenon to be studied particularly in the study of
second language learning because it is one of the major aspects of bilingual developmental process. Generally, code
switching can occur because of two reasons: first, the speaker’s deficiency in the target language. Second, it is because
of some multiple communicative purposes (Gysels cited in Duran, 1994).
Furthermore, code switching is seen as having certain function in the communication done by bilinguals or multilingual.
Duran (1994), for example, states that code switching is firmly connected to bilingual. Other scholars say that code
switching is also a psycholinguistic development result in a bilingual’s conversation. Among them, Heredia and Brown
(http://www.tamiu.edu) said that people who know more than one language naturally produce code switching.
Crystal (1987) asserted that code switching occurs when two persons alternate two languages in their conversations. It
means that a person who knows more than one language makes a conversation with another person who knows more
than one language too but those languages are same languages. This includes those who randomly use a second
language in daily language, or those who have considerable skill in a foreign language. Therefore, This code switching
commonly occurs among bilinguals, who switch words, phrases or/and sentences from other languages.
Berthold, Mangubhai and Bartorowicz (1997) found that code switching appears when speakers change from one
language to another language in speech or conversations. An example of code switching from Indonesian language to
English language “kamu handsome bangat sih” meaning “you are really handsome”. The speakers switch the word
“handsome” to replace Indonesian word “tampan” in the conversation.
Furthermore, Cook (1991) describes three linguistic level of code switching: word, phrase, and sentence (clause) levels.
This level of the language would be used to identify the language level produced by the EFL students in Universitas
Negeri Medan. Beside that, there are a number of possible reasons why switching from one language to another occurs.
The first, a speaker may not be able to express him/herself in one language so switching to the other language to
compensate for the deficiency. As a result, the speaker may be triggered into speaking in the other language for a while.
The second, switching commonly occurs when an individual wishes to express solidarity with a particular social group
(Crystal 1987).
English is a foreign language for the students in English Language and Literature Department Universitas Negeri
Medan Indonesia. They use English for international communication and for Learning purpose. Since English is the
language that they have to master, they have practiced English in their daily conversation. In natural conversation, they
tend to use Indonesian language but they commonly switch English in the conversation. This is a common thing for the
person who knows Indonesian language and English. This is something unique to be known in what extend they switch
English in their conversation and the reasons in using code switching in the conversation.
ALLS 7(3):278-281, 2016 279
1.2 Research Problem
EFL students in Universitas Negeri Medan tended to switch codes in their daily conversation particularly switch
English in their Indonesian language conversations. This code switching is really common among the students in
UNIMED. Even though actually, this phenomenon is good for the students to improve their English but the exact
reasons and the level of code switching are crucially needed to be known. Therefore, this research would focus on
finding the level of the code switching and the reasons why the students tend to switch codes.
1.3 Research Questions
According to background of study and research problem, the research questions are formulated as follows:
1) What are the levels of code switching on EFL learners daily conversation in English Language and Literature
Department Universitas Negeri Medan Indonesia?
2) What are the reasons of the learners in switching codes on their daily conversation?

2. Literature Review
Basically, code switching is a particular feature of bilinguals, which is related to situation where bilingual persons
alternate between languages or within utterance (Greer, 2007). Moreover, Codes are usually in the varieties of language,
which is used by members of a language community. For monolinguals, codes are the varieties of a language or the
same language. But for bilingual or multilingual, the codes might include the varieties of two languages. Language has
some classes of variety and they are different in each language such as dialect, speech level, and style. But for this
research, the writer tends to be more concerned on linguistics level in the code switching.
Code switching (CS) is commonly used as an alterative language in conversational event. The term was first employed
to refer to the coexistence of more than one structural system in the speech of one individual. Jakobson, Fant, and Halle
(1952) who use "code" in the abstract information theoretical sense. In later writings, "code" has come a synonym of
"language" or "speech variety". Recent research on CS falls within two distinct traditions: the syntactic, providing
insights into the linguistic principles that underline the form that CS takes; and the pragmatic that relates linguistic form
to function in everyday discourse. To eliminate the problem, the paper focuses on the linguistic level: word, phrase, and
sentence (clause) levels and reasons of code switching habits.
Code switching normally occurs in informal speech or colloquial speech, which is the type of speech used in everyday,
informal situations when the speaker is not paying particular attention to pronunciation, choice of words or sentence
structure (Richard, 1985). Educated native speakers or language naturally use colloquial speech in formal situation with
friends, fellow workers, and members of the family. Formal speech is a type of speech when the speaker is very careful
about pronunciation and choice of words and sentence structure (Richard, 1985). This type of speech may be used, for
example, at official functions, and in debates and ceremonies.
Specifically, there are three types of the code switching habits. The first is inter-sentential code switching, which occurs
between utterances said by the same speakers. The second is intra-sentential which takes place within a sentence. The
third is supra-sentential or unitary-code switching, which occurs when speaker switches a single item of the utterance
(Milroy & Myusken, 1995). Furthermore, Becker (1997) separates the factors that make bilingual speakers switch codes
in to three types: structural linguistics factors, internal psycholinguistics factors, and external social factors.
Specifically, Zentella (as cited in Becker, 1997) elaborates that structural linguistics factors are attached in the language
structure and in individual language knowledge. It means that bilingual speakers have the ability to keep the
grammatical coherence of the both languages at the same time. Then, the internal psycholinguistics factors are separated
in to two kinds: 1) unconscious factors, which contain a brief inclination, exposure frequency, and cultural
untranslatability; and 2) conscious factors, which consist of an intention for emphasis, mode, controlling address,
personalization, objectification. And last is an external and social nature such as participants, topic, setting and
conditions.
Purposely, this research focuses on the second type of code switching habits. It means that the study is willing to find
out the linguistics levels (word, phrase, and sentence), which take place in the sentence within the conversation. Then,
determine the students’ reasons in switching codes whether it belongs to the first, the second, or the third factors
mentioned by Becker (1997).
3. Methodology
3.1 Subjects of the Study
The subjects of this study were the EFL students in English Language and Literature Department, Universitas Negeri
Medan Indonesia. The number of the students in this department was 840 students. The range of the ages is 17 to 23
years old.
3.2 Data Collection and Analysis Techniques
The data collected were qualitative data. The techniques used of collecting data were diary notes and semi-structured
interview. The data code-switching data were collected from the daily conversation of the students. And the semi-
structured interview was used to get the reason why the students were using code switching on their conversations.
Levels of the linguistics structure in their sentence were analyzed by using the theory of words form (word, phrase, and
ALLS 7(3):278-281, 2016 280
clause/sentence) in English Language (Meyer, 2009). Thus, the code switching in the conversation would be
categorized in to three levels, which are words, phrases and clauses/sentences. Then, it would be calculated which level
the students used most in their conversation.
4. Data Analysis
4.1 Code Switching Expressions and the Levels of Linguistic Structure
Here are 15 expressions chosen as the data collection. Here are the examples of expression considered code switching
from students in English Language and Literature Department, Universitas Negeri Medan.
1. “Hang out yok!”,
2. “Kita lagi on line lah”,
3. “ Maaf ya komputer aku lagi error”,
4. “Wah, kayaknya dia lagi offline”,
5. “Boleh tahu nggak e-mail kamu?”,
6. “Love you bangat”,
7. “Miss you bangat.”,
8. “Kamu bisa call aku anytime”,
9. Aku belom save tuh nomor kamu yang baru,
10. “Kayaknya dia jealous deh, sama kau.”,
11. “Hey, Ini Randy kenalan yok! I think you are cute bangat”,
12. “ I juga bilang kalau you emang ada talent”,
13. “Aku bingung dan I don’t know what I have to do”,
14. “You tahu kan kalo I tidak suka sama you”,
15. “Coba isi saja application form itu ya!”,
4.1.1 Analyzing Code Switching (CS) Expressions and Linguistic Level
a. Code Switching in Word Level
“You tahu kan kalo I tidak suka sama you”.

Table 1. Code Switching in Word Level


CS Indonesian CS Indonesian CS
expression expression
I juga bilang kalau you ada talent

The linguistics level of the above example lies on word level. The speaker just change the Indonesian word of saya into
I and kamu into you. The linguistic analysis is by changing the subject and object. Then, they change the word bakal
into talent. Thus, I, you, and talent belong to words in English Linguistics (Meyer, 2009). “I” is a pronoun and the
function is as a subject, while “you” is a pronoun too but can be as a subject or object in a sentence. Then, “talent” is a
noun.
b. Code Switching in Phrase Level
Coba isi saja application form itu!”,

Table 2. Code Switching in Phrase Level


Indonesian Indonesian Indonesian English Indonesian
expression expression expression Expression Expression
coba isi saja Application itu
form
The Code Switching comes in when the phrase “Formulir pendaftaran” becomes “Application Form” which contains
two words: Application and Form. According to Meyer (2009) this expression is phrase level in English Linguistics.
c. Code Switching in Sentence Level
“Aku tuh bingung dan I really don’t know what I have to do”
S adv V Obj (noun clause as object)
ALLS 7(3):278-281, 2016 281
Table 3. Code Switching in Sentence Level
Indonesian expression CS
Aku tuh bingung I really don’t know what I have to do

The linguistic level of the above expression is on sentence level. The code switching of the Indonesia expression “saya
ngak tahu lagi apa yang harus kulakukan” rendered into I really don’t know what I have to do. The linguistic level
categorized as sentence is that the expression occurs in sentence type. The part of speech of the expression is I (subject),
really (adverb), don’t know (verb), and what I have to do (noun clause as object) (Meyer, 2009).
In accordance with the levels of the code switching produced by the EFL learners in English Language and Literature
Department Universitas Negeri Medan Indonesia, it can declared that the students have already reached the three level
of the English linguistics which are words, phrases, and clause (sentence) levels.
4.2 Reasons for Switching Codes
Data from interview to 15 students in English and literature Department State University of Medan reveals that most of
code switching occurs in certain situation. These students said in the interview that they use English because they did
not know the Indonesian equivalence such as e-mail, online, offlline and etc. Some thought that the use of Indoglish
makes the conversation more prestigious like application form. And others said that they switched code in order to
adapt with the situation. Also, there is the influence of the specific intentions or purposes of the bilingual or multilingual
to use the expressions in their communication performance. It means that the reasons of switching codes in students
daily conversation English Language and Literature Department Universitas Negeri Medan fall more in to the second
and the third factors, which are internal psycholinguistics factors and external social factors respectively.
5. Conclusion
Throughout the research, the phenomenon of the code switching is presented to their usages in bilingual and
multilingual community. It can be concluded that, the code switching occurred in the word, phrase and sentence levels.
The reasons of using those expressions are mostly influenced by situation and not knowing the Indonesian language
preference. Therefore, from this research there are two contrasted things will be happened. First, the English of the
students is naturally appeared. Thus, the aim of implicitly acquiring English has been appeared. Second, the defense of
national language (Indonesian language) has been defaced.
5.1 Limitation of the Study and Recommendation
Actually, this study is a simple study and of course there is limitation on this study. This study actually is only focusing
on the levels of the code switching and reasons why the learners switch code. Moreover, the participants were only the
students from English Language and Literature Department Universitas Negeri Medan. Then, the analysis of the code
switching is only about the linguistics level of the code. And the researcher only used the diary notes and semi-
structured interview only collecting the data.
Therefore, there are some of the recommendations to the future researchers. First, the next researchers are expected to
do the code switching study on more particular and specific analysis such as semantic, syntactic, morphology, and
pragmatic aspects in code switching. Second, the next researchers can do the research on the advantages and
disadvantages of the code switching in social life or classroom usage. Third, the future researches are expected to do the
research in bigger number of the participants, use the variety techniques of collecting data and analysis.

References
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Berthold, M., Mangubhai, F., and Batonwicz, K. (1997). Bilingual & Multilingualism: Study Book. Distance Education
Centre. Toowoomba: University of Southern Queensland.
Cook, V. (1991). Second Language Learning and Language Teaching. Melbourne: Hodder Headline group.
Crystal, D. (1987). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Duran, L. (1994). Toward a Better Understanding of Code Switching and Interlanguage in Bilinguality: Implication for
Bilingual Instruction. In http://www.ncela.gwu.edu. Retrieved: Oct 4th, 2007.
Greer, T. (2007). Accomplishing identity in bilingual interaction: Code switching practices among a group of
multiethnic Japanese teenagers. Unpublished Ph.D. University of Southern Queensland Australia.
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Milroy, L., & Muysken, P. (1995). One speaker, two languages cross-disciplinary perspectives on code switching. New
York: Cambridge University Press.
Richard, K. (1985). Principle of Particle Construction. In Jacqueline Gueron, Hans-Georg Obenauer, and Jean-Yues
Pollock, eds., Grammatical Representation. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Foris Publications.

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