WRITTEN REPORT
Sociolinguistics course code 5656
WHAT IS CODE SWITCHING? HOW OFTEN AN INDIVIDUAL IN
POSSESSION OF TWO LANGUAGES CODE SWITHCES? TAKE ANY SITUATION FROM YOUR
SURROUNDINGS AND COLLECT REASONABLE EXAMPLES OF CODE SWITCHING. ALSO, TRY TO
FIGURE OUT THE POSSIBLE REASONS OF CODE SWITCHING IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION.
THE REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS, ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF DIPLOMA
OF TEACHING OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TEFL)
Submitted by
Date of submission
DEPARTMENT OF
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS, ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN
Dedication
This Research Oriented
Activity is dedicated to my parents, and teachers.
Acknowledgements
First of all I am very thankful to Almighty Allah
who is the most beneficent, the most merciful and have the power to create
things with one word “Kun”. This project was impossible for me without his
divine help.
I am grateful to all the Teachers who shared their
knowledge with me throughout Tutorials scheduled for Diploma TEFL program and enabling
me to reach this level and to accomplish this Research Oriented Activity.
Specially, I am grateful to Mr. Ahmed Sheikh my Teacher for this course whose
guidance was continuously with me throughout this whole activity.
I am also gratified to my friend Hafiz Qaiser
Hassan for his help during this activity. Thanks to all my friends for their
encouragement.
Naeem Haider Yazdani
AP504248
Table of Contents
1.1 CODE
In this report, code will
be taken as a verbal component that can be as
small as a morpheme
or as comprehensive and complex as the entire
system of language. As such, the Yoruba language is a code, so also is its single
morpheme.
1.1.1 CODE
SWITCHING
The term Code Switching (or, as it is sometimes written, code-switching or codeswitching)
is broadly discussed and used in linguistics and a variety of related fields.
Code switching is a famous and natural phenomenon. In linguistics,
code-switching is switching between two or more languages, or
language varieties, in the context of a single
conversation.
Multilingual
people, who speak more than one language, sometimes use elements of multiple
languages in conversing with each other. Thus, code-switching is the use of
more than one linguistic variety in a manner consistent with the syntax and phonology of
each variety.
Code-switching
is distinct from other language contact phenomena. Speakers form and
establish a lingua franca (Urdu) when two or more speakers who do not speak a
common language form an intermediate, third language like (Urdu) or as Hindi in
society like Indian where multilingual communities are residing. On the other
hand, speakers practice code-switching when they are each fluent in both
languages. Code mixing is a thematically related term, but the
usage of the terms code-switching and code-mixing varies. Some
scholars use either term to denote the same practice, while others apply code-mixing
to denote the formal linguistic properties of said language-contact phenomena,
and code-switching to denote the actual, spoken usages by multilingual
persons.
In the
1940s and 1950s, many scholars considered code-switching to be a sub-standard
use of language.[5]
Since the 1980s, however, most scholars have recognized it is a normal, natural
product of bilingual and multilingual language use.
The term
code-switching is also used outside the field of linguistics. Some scholars of
literature use the term to describe literary styles which include elements from
more than one language, as in novels by Chinese-American, Anglo-Indian, or
Latinoa writers.
In
popular usage code-switching is sometimes used to refer to relatively
stable informal mixtures of two languages, such as Spanglish(Spanish
+ English). Both in popular usage and in sociolinguistic scholarship, the name
code-switching is sometimes used to refer to switching among dialects, styles
or registers, such as that practiced by
speakers of African American Vernacular English
as they move from less formal to more formal settings.
Since code switching is a very prominent
feature of bilingualism in language switching. Alternately, studies of language
acquisition, second language acquisition, and language learning use the term
code switching to describe either bilingual speakers’ or language learners’
cognitive linguistic abilities, or to describe classroom or learner practices
involving the use of more than one language.(e.g.Romaine 1989; Cenoz and
Genesee 2001; Fotos 2001, inter alia).These and other studies seem to use code
as a synonym for language variety. Alvarez-Cáccamo
1.1.2 Definitions of Code Switching:
In 1977, Carol Myers-Scotton and William Ury defind code-switching as the “use of two or more
linguistic varieties in the same conversation or interaction”.
The practice of moving back
and forth between two languages or
between two dialects
or registers of
the same language. Code switching (CS) occurs far more often in conversation
than in writing.
Several
scholars have attempted to define code-switching and code-mixing. Among them
are Amuda (1989), Atoye (1994) and Belly (1976).
For instance,
Hymes (1974) defines only 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 both concepts thus:
Code-switching is the
mixing of words, phrases and sentences from two distinct grammatical (sub)
systems across sentence boundaries within the same speech event… code-mixing is
the embedding of various linguistic units such as affixes (bound morphemes),
words (unbound morphemes), phrases and clauses from a co-operative activity
where the participants, in order to infer what is intended, must reconcile what
they hear with what they understand.
1.1.3 Examples of Code Switching
There
are a number of examples which can be presented on account of Code Switching.
Since our Pakistani Society is a multilingual society therefore numberless
individuals of this society uses code switching as a useful tool for
interaction between different races of people living in the society. Following
are the examples of this phenomenon.
It
is difficult to tell that how often an individual in possession of two
languages code switches, because it depends on the situation and circumstances.
Frequency of his code switching cannot be counted.
- Let
suppose, a person leaves home with the intention to go for an interview at
a place far from his residence and he has to use local means of
transportation to reach there.
First of all in his way to bus stop he feels that his shoes need
shoe polish and he happens to find a person with the requisite service.
That person is a Pathan then he code switches and starts with these words”Khocha Boot polish kitnay ka keray ga”
although he is in possession of Punjabi,Urdu and English as well but he uses the
language according to the individual. Subsequently after boarding on the
bus when conductor requires fare from him the conductor utters following
words”Sir ,Karaya day do”. This
person replies him that “Ye lo”.
When he arrives at the reception of that firm he inquires in a nice manner
from the receptionist in following words” Je mujhay interview kay liye kidher jana ho ga or where I shall
have to go for the interview”? When he goes in the interview room he
replies the questions of the interview committee according to the language
used by the members of the committee.
After returning home when his mother asks him in Punjabi that “Putter Interview kinj da hoya” he replies in the same language that
“Ammi Ji interview thek hi ho gia
ay”. So in this example we can see that a person who possesses more
than two languages uses code switching on a lot more occasions for the
communication with the members of the society having different
professional background.
- In
another example I happened to exchange the views with a Pathan and he told me that once he
happened to stopped by a traffic warden going on a motorcycle with his
friend to meet their joint friend. The concerned traffic warden directed
him to show his driving license and ownership documents of motorcycle in
the following manner” O Khan driving license aur motorcycle kay
kagzat tu dikha” . He told me
that at that time they did not have both the required things, so he told
his friend in pushtoo that you
should act like patient who has severe pain in his stomach and I shall
tell the traffic warden that I was taking him to the doctor and due to
emergency we don’t have requisite documents. His friend suddenly started
crying with pain and put his hands on his belly. So after considering the emergency situation traffic warden
left them by warning them. Here
we can see how cleverly that Pathan
used the code switching in his favour.
- One day I happened
to go to a hotel situated in the backside of my house in the street. I Was
on the motorcycle in my official dress for bringing tandoori bread.I
requested him to give me 4 bread
please. He replied with respect and ordered his servant in the following
maner “Oye sir horan noon pehlon
roti day do” to give me the bread on priority basis since there were
many people waiting for their turn. So here we can see that he switched
code according to the individual.
- Many
a times our teachers who teach English language they use this faculty
while teaching us. They use Urdu and sometimes Punjabi words to
communicate with us.
- While
talking to a foreigner we use English Language although we possess more
than two languages because the situation requires us to use the feature of
Code Switching.
- Even
a vendor or vegetable seller which is considered to be an ill-mannered and
illiterate person he often uses this feature of Code switching in
using Language with his customers
e.g. Sir ,Janab, Bhai Sahib, Khala
ji, and o mundia etc.
- My
brother has been working in Air force since 18 years and he happened to
serve in different parts of the country including pukhtoon areas. He told me that The Pathan people have dual policy for Punjabi and Pathan. If a person speaks pushtoo they sell different item
to him in far cheaper rates than to a person who don’t know pushtoo. Since he has learned/acquired
pushtoo language so at present
when he speakes pushtoo they
sell their items to him on cheaper rates.
1.1.4 REASONS OF CODE SWITCHING
When a person uses code switching he actually use
that feature for enjoying some kind of advantages.
Following are the
possible reasons of using code switching in a particular situation.
The above referred examples
clearly show the reasons for using the code switching by individuals.
i.
EASE OF LANGUAGE &
FACILITY:
By communicating through the same language of the opposite person, we
can easily convey him the requisite information. If that person will talk to that
Pathan in Urdu and especially in English he cannot succeed in communicating the
purpose behind his conversation so the entire sytem of communication fails to
get proper result..
ii.
PRESTIGE:
Class and language have direct relationship which
is very important. The language used by the rich community has more privilege
than that of used by other lower formation of the society. When any one watches
carefully the dressing of the concerned person than he decides to talk in a
different tone with the more privileged persons. So when one gets impress from
the personality of that person, prestige is added to his personality.
iii.
FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE:
By using code switching certain individuals have
succeeded in acquiring certain financial advantages from the community of
multilingual individuals. Since Pakistani Society is multilingual therefore, a person who knows
both the languages of Urdu and English and uses them with expertise can acquire
more financial advantages than any other person who do not possess the above
referred ability.
iv.
TO KEEP THINGS
SECRET:
We
can see how Pathan in the above example have used code switching in his favour
since that Traffic Warden did not know the Pushtoo Language, therefore Pathan
used his Mother Tongue to get rid of him.
v.
LANGUAGE
RELATIONSHIP KEEPS PEOPLE INTACT:
When
a person after knowing the language of other person code switches in his
language, he tells in this way that I also possess same language and I am one
of the same people. We have such experiences in our routine life when a person
is recognized by his accent that he belongs to Lahore or Faisalabad or he is
Pathan or sikh or indian. So by having same language people seek harmony with
other people.
vi.
SOMETIMES THE
OTHER LANGUAGE HAS A BETTER WORD OR PHRASE TO EXPRESS A PARTICULAR IDEA:
I talk about this reason in particular in the report mentioned above. I do this
a lot with adjectives, for example, and it really has nothing to do with not
knowing the equivalent in either language. It’s rather a matter of using the
better word to describe what I am trying to say.
vii.
SOMETIMES THE WORDS WE CODE-SWITCH ARE THE
ONLY ONES WE HAVE OR THEY ARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE IN THE OTHER LANGUAGE:
This is not to say that
we don’t necessarily know the correct word in the language we’re using. This
has more to do with something extremely interesting Prof. Grosjean calls the
“complementary principle” which basically has to do with the notion that for
bilinguals different aspects of life, such as work, family, school, sports,
hobbies, etc., require different languages.
For example, A person who has spent a large part of his career as a
television producer and although he worked for Univision for many years
surrounded with bilinguals (with different levels of proficiency), they would
always switch to English whenever they were talking about technical terminology
related to, say, editing video. It just
made more sense to do so since in the case of editing video, for instance, the
software was in English.
viii.
SOMETIMES
WE CODE-SWITCH AS A COMMUNICATIVE TOOL, INCLUDING TO EXCLUDE SOMEONE OR TO SHOW
EXPERTISE.
Since we are
bilingual, we’ve surely done this: switched to the minority language so that
those around us can’t understand. Sometimes it might be difficult to say
something specifically about those we’re excluding; sometimes we just don’t
want others to listen to what we are saying. Since we are bilingual, We’ve
surely been embarrassed when we found out the person we were trying to exclude
actually spoke the minority language, too!
So in the concluding
remarks it would be justified to say that Code Switching is an additional
expertise for those individuals who possess more than two languages. They can
utilize their ability to create favorable Economic, Social and Cultural
conditions for their respectable survival in the society, they live. We being
Pakistani are living in a multilingual society because form our childhood after
acquiring mother tongue which is Punjabi, we are forced to learn Arabic and
then Urdu along with English as compulsory Language.
This is like a Motorcycle or Car which have Five
Gears unlike others which have four gears and this fifth gear can be utilized
when need arises.
A): Introduction
of the student
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Last degree obtained:
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M.A ENGLISH
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Organization’s name:
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PUNJAB FORENSIC SCIENCE AGENCY ,HOME DEPARTMENT
THOKER NIAZ BAIG LAHORE
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Designation:
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Assistant (ADMIN)
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Experience:
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3 YearS
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B): Bibliography
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code-switching
- http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/codeswitchingterm.htm
- http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/4558
- http://www.njas.helsinki.fi/pdf-files/vol15num1/ayeomoni.pdf
- http://spanglishbaby.com/2010/06/what-is-code-switching-and-why-do-bilinguals-do
it/
- Sociolinguistics course code 5656, Department
of English Language & Applied Linguistic, Allama Iqbal Open University
Islamabad.
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