Code-Switching in The Speech of Bilinguals
- Details
- Category: English Language and Literature
- Published: Monday, 14 May 2012 03:00
- Written by Sajida Ali Yasin
- Hits: 3053
Abstract
Code-switching in the speech of bilinguals
Sajida Ali Yasin
Mu'tah University, 2011
This study is concerned with investigating the phenomenon of code-switching in the speech of bilingual people, and the most important motivations that lead them to use this language contact phenomenon. This study also focuses on some differences among bilinguals when it comes to their use of code-switching. To better investigate the problem, two main questions were formulated: (1) when, (2) why do bilinguals use code-switching? And (3) what are the main universal constraints on code-switching and what exactly are they? To collect the data required for answering and testing the research questions, the researcher developed a questionnaire that included sixteen questions applied on students from two private bilingual schools in Amman. One hundred males and females were involved aged between 14 and 16 were involved in answering the questions. The participants were selected from Amman Baccalaureate School and The New English School.
The findings of the study were as follows:
1- code-switching is a wide-spread phenomenon in the speech of bilinguals employed for different purposes such as:
a. Feeling close to people they know, which means a good way to express feelings and emotions within the same group.
b. Including or excluding people from conversation.
c. Compensating for the lack of some lexis in the native language.
2- Code-switching is not often a way of showing off among bilinguals, but instead it is a language contact phenomenon that occurs subconsciously.
3- males use code-switching with females more than they do with other males.
4- Mixing two languages together does not strengthen or weaken any of the languages.
5- Hiding secrets.
And finally, different studies are recommended to be conducted in the same field to find out more reasons that lie behind the phenomenon of code switc