Name : Tsabitha Azra
NIM : 0304212147
Class : TBI2/6th Semester
Sub : Sociolinguistics
CODE SWITCHING
Code-switching is a term in linguistics refering to using more than one language or
variety in conversation. Sometimes the bilingual speakers getting problem when they having a
conversation with another bilingual, so they switches their language from code to another in the
construction of sentence to make the interlocutor understand, sometimes they do it with the same
language background and it may do so many times.
Code switching is the one of alternative ways to bilingual of two or more languages in the
same conversation. Hymes (1974) defines code-switching as “a common term for alternative use
of two or more languages, varieties of a language or even speech styles” while Bokamba (1989)
defines code-switching is the mixing of words, phrases and sentences from two distinct
grammatical (sub) systems across sentence boundaries within the same speech event.
In the class, when the teacher teach a foreign language code switching also become
strategies learning in order to develop the students skill in English language. In the beginning of
meeting the teacher use target language when they explain the material and then they switch
again into Indonesia to make sure understood for the students. The student uses the target
language as much as possible but reverts to their native language for any element of an utterance
that they are unable to produce in the target language.
For example:
“good morning class….”, ok students, today we will study about part of body…
“selamat pagi anak-anak…”, hari ini kita akan belajar tentang bagian-bagian tubuh…
“now, listen your name! dengar namanya!!(when teacher absentees)
“Present sir!hadir pak!”(student answer)
“good!! Bagus!!” (when student has answer the question well)
Generally, there are different perspectives on code-switching. A major approach in
sociolinguistics focuses on the social motivations for switching, a line of inquiry concentrating
both on immediate discourse factors such as lexical need and the topic and setting of the
discussion, and on more distant factors such as speaker or group identity, and relationship-
building (solidarity). Code-switching may also be reflective of the frequency with which an
individual uses particular expressions from one or the other language in his daily
communications; thus, an expression from one language may more readily come to mind than
the equivalent expression in the other language.
Code-switching can occur between sentences (intersentential) or within a single sentence
(intrasentential). There are four major types of switching:
1. Tag-switching, in which tags and certain set phrases in one language are inserted into an
utterance otherwise in another.
For example:
Teacher: “benar, that’s a good answer”!
“Bagus, good job Santi”!
The words “that’s a good answer” can be considered a tag. Sometimes, emblematic code-
switching or tag switching can take the form of intrasentential switching where categorical
equivalence exists between the two languages involved.
Intrasentential switching, in which switches occur within a clause or sentence boundary.
It can take the form such as, code changing, code mixing, insertion and congruent lexicalizations.
For example:
“menurutku that’s a good idea!”
“open your book and kerjakan hal 10!”
From example above includes code-changing or complete shifts to another language
system at major constituent boundaries.
Intersentential switching, in which a change of language occurs at sentence levels, where
each clause or sentence is in one language or the other.
Example:
T: “Have you done?”
S: Sudah, pak! - T: May I see?
S: ini pak!
From example above intersentential code switches was to relate speech that had already
occurred in other conversations in English. And it more frequent than intrasentential.
Intra-word switching, in which a change occurs within a word boundary.
Example:
ujian hari ini adalah oral!
The word of “oral” is considered instances of speech borrowings, where the speaker
borrows an English word. In other hand, Milroy and Pieter define code switching “as a term
‘intra sentential’ used for switches within the sentence, in contrast with ‘intersentetial’ used for
switches between sentences”. Although some commentators have seen code-switching as
reflecting a lack of language ability, most contemporary scholars consider code-switching to be a
normal and natural product of interaction between the bilingual or multilingual speaker’s
languages.
