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Code Switching
In order to understand ,first see the conversation between a B.ed student and a headmaster during
a job interview –
Candidate : – May , I come in Sir?
Interviewer : – Yes, Come in. Please sit down
Candidate : –Thank you sir
Interviewer : –What is your name?
Candidate : – Sir my name is Salamat Ali Khan
Interviewer: - Where are you from ?
Candidate: – Sir I am from Rajasthan.
Interviewer: – Wow ! I also belong to Rajasthan. Rajasthan me kanha se ho?
Candidate: – Hanumangarh se.
In the above conversation, we see that the dialogue started in English, but on mentioning a familiar
state of the examiner, the conversation ends in Hindi language, as we know a Rajasthani can
understand Hindi well.
We see that English language was switched to the Hindi language for formal information purposes.
This is code switching
Switching form one code to another is a matter of individual choice.
The shift from one language to another is either consciously or unconsciously
Typically one of the two languages is dominant. The major language is often called the matrix
language ,while the minor language is called the embedded language.
Code switching refers to the concurrent use of more than one language or language variety in
conversation.
Milroy & Muysken ( 1995) defined Code-Switching as “the alternative use by bilinguals of two or
more languages in the same conversation.”
Gumperz (1982) defines the term ‘Code-Switching’ as “the juxtaposition within the same speech
exchange of passages of speech belonging to two different grammatical systems or sub-systems.”
Bokamba considers Code-Switching as “the mixing of words, phrases and sentences form two
distinct grammatical systems across sentence boundaries within the same speech event, in other
words, inter-sentential switching.”
Code switching is the inevitable consequence of bilingualism and multilingualism. Any person who
knows/speaks more than one language, chooses between them according to circumstances. First
consideration is that which language will be comprehensible to the addressee. In multilingual
community, the different languages are always used in different circumstances and the choice is
always controlled by social rules. Typically one language is reserved exclusively for use at home and
another is used in the wider community.
Types of Code Switching
John J. Gumperz and Jan Petter Blom in their paper ‘Social meaning in linguistic structures’
suggested two types of Code switching
1. Situational Code Switching
It involves change in participants, situations or strategies.
Situation determines the choice of language.
It is evoked by conversational context.
The shift in situations requires shift in language varieties.
The choice of language is controlled by rules which the members of the community learn from their
experience, so these rules are part of their total linguistics knowledge.
An employee has to take a leave to attend his friend’s Birthday party. His friend is in him office. The
man uses two languages – Hindi with his friends and English with his boss. Let’s check how he shifts
from one situation to another.
(Outside of the office)
Mohan – यार दे खता हॉ बोस छुट्टी दें गे या नहीॊ
अरे कुछ नहीॊ, एक बार बोऱके तो दे ख
(In the office )
Mohan – May, I come in Sir.
Boss – Oh, Mohan, Come in. What is matter that you are looking some tensed?
Mohan – Sir, actually my friend is out. He wants me to attend his birthday party. And ...
Boss – Oh, don’t worry. Attend the party. Enjoy. Go.
Mohan – Thank you very much sir.
(Outside the office )
Mohan – यार छुट्टी दे दी बोस ने
Sohan - क्या बात है !
2. Metaphorical Code Switching
It is a rhetorical device in which the speakers switch to another language for communicative effect
in the same situation.
When bilingual speakers use their choice of language in order to define the situation rather than
letting the situation define the choice of language, metaphorical code switching occurs.
In some cases, the situation is less clear either because it is ambiguous or because the speaker
decides to ignore the observable external situation and focus instead on less observable
characteristic of people. Concerned such cases, where it is the choice of language that determines
the situation
Sunita – How are you , dear.
Suman – I am fine.
Sunita – कऱ कहाॉ गायब थी?
Suman – कहीॊ नहीॊ यार, बस थोडा बुखार था
Features of Code Switching
Code switching has three components -
i) More language
ii) Varieties
iii) Speech styles
Code switching is the use of more than one linguistic variety in a manner consistent with the syntax
and phonology of each variety
It refers to the use of two language or dialects within a sentences or in discourse
Code switching is only possible when the speaker knows at least two languages.
It is an alternative use of another language for the length of a discourse unit when here is a change
is speech
Speakers practice code switching , when they are each fluent in both language
It develops mixed language ( strictly grammatical )
It requires the knowledge of at least two language
It is used for more conversation or in advertisement than writing or in literature
It point out the manner of formality or informality
It is used to exert control between children and parents
It takes place between free morpheme ; not in bound morpheme
It involves the substitutions of word or phrase from language within a sentence in another language
Close class items ( pronoun –preposition , conjunction – interjection – determiner – components )
can’t be switched
