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

NAEEM HAIDER YAZDANI

AP 504248

Date of submission

NOVEMBER 01, 2012

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

1.1.1 CODE SWITCHING

1.1.2 Definitions of Code Switching:

1.1.3 Examples of Code Switching

1.1.4 REASONS OF CODE SWITCHING

i. EASE OF LANGUAGE & FACILITY:

ii. PRESTIGE:

iii. FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE:

iv. TO KEEP THINGS SECRET:

v. LANGUAGE RELATIONSHIP KEEPS PEOPLE INTACT:

vi. SOMETIMES THE OTHER LANGUAGE HAS A BETTER WORD OR PHRASE TO EXPRESS A PARTICULAR IDEA:

A): Introduction of the student

B): Bibliography

Section I

1. Introduction:

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!

2. Conclusion

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.

Section II

A): Introduction of the student

Last degree obtained:	M.A ENGLISH
Organization’s name:	PUNJAB FORENSIC SCIENCE AGENCY ,HOME DEPARTMENT THOKER NIAZ BAIG LAHORE
Designation:	Assistant (ADMIN)
Experience:	3 YearS