CODE MIXING AND CODE SWITCHING

Some Reasons in Using
Code Switching and Code Mixing

When code switching or code mixing occurs, the reasons of the speaker is an important consideration in the process.

• According to Hoffman (1991), there are a number of reasons for bilingual or multilingual person to switch or mix their languages. Those are:

1. Talking about a particular topic. 
People sometimes prefer to talk about a particular topic in one language rather than in another. Sometimes, a speaker feels free and more comfortable to express his/her emotional feelings in a language that is not his/her everyday language. The case can be found in Singapore, in which English language is used to discuss trade or a business matter, Mandarin for international “Chinese” language, Malay as the language of the region, and Tamil as the language of one of the important ethnic groups in the republic.

2. Quoting somebody else

A speaker switches code to quote a famous expression, proverb, or saying of some well-known figures. The switch involves just the words that the speaker is claiming the quoted person said. The switch like a set of quotation marks. In Indonesian, those well- known figures are mostly from some English-speaking countries. Then, because many of the Indonesian people nowadays are good in English, those famous expressions or sayings can be  quoted intact in their original language. For example:

A: Bolehkah saya tahu nama anda, Pak? (May I know your name, Sir?)

B: What is a name.

In this conversation, B answers the question from A with the famous proverb ‘what is a

name.’

3. Being emphatic about something (express solidarity)

As usual, when someone who is talking using a language that is not his native language suddenly wants to be emphatic about something, he either intentionally or unintentionally, will switch from his second language to his first language. Or, on the other hand, he switches from his second language to his first language because he feels more convenient to be emphatic in his second language rather that in his first language.

4. Interjection (inserting sentence fillers or sentence connectors)

Interjection is words or expressions, which are inserted into a sentence to convey surprise, strong emotion, or to gain attention. Interjection is a short exclamation like: Darn!, Hey!, Well!, Look!, etc. They have no grammatical value, but speaker uses them quite often, usually more in speaking than in writing. Language switching and language mixing among bilingual or multilingual people can sometimes mark an interjection or sentence connector. It may happen unintentionally. The following are examples of the usage of interjection in sentences:

1. Indonesian_English

Dompetku ketinggalan di taksi!

Shitt!

(My wallet was left in the taxi!)

2. Spanish_English (Gumperz, 1982:77)

Chicano professionals saying goodbye, and after having been introduced by a

third speaker, talking briefly:

A : Well, I’m glad to meet you.

B :
Andale pues

(O.K.Swell). And do come again. Mm?

5. Repetition used for clarification

When a bilingual or multilingual person wants to clarify his speech so that it will be understood better by listener, he can sometimes use both of the languages (codes) that he masters to say the same message. Frequently, a message in one code is repeated in the other code literally. A repetition is not only served to clarify what is said, but also to amplify or emphasize a message.

For example :

English_Hindi (Gumperz, 1982:78)

Father calling his small son while walking through a train compartment, “Keep straight.

Sidha jao

” (keep straight).

6. Intention of clarifying the speech content for interlocutor

When bilingual or multilingual person talks to another bilingual/multilingual, there will be lots of code switching and code mixing occurs. It means to make the content of his speech runs smoothly and can be understood by the listener. A message in one code is repeated in the other code in somewhat modified form.

7. Expressing group identity

Code switching and code mixing can also be used to express group identity. Theway of communication of academic people in their disciplinary groupings, are obviously different from the other groups. In other words, the way of communication of one community is different from the people who are out of the community. Saville-Troike (1986:69) also gives some additional reasons for bilingual and multilingual person to switch or mix their languages, these are:

8. To soften or strengthen request or command

For Indonesian people, mixing and switching Indonesian into English can also function as a request because English is not their native tongue, so it does not sound as direct as Indonesian. However, code mixing and code switching can also strengthen a command since the speaker can feel more powerful than the listener because he can use a language that everybody can not.

9. Because of real lexical need

The most common reason for bilingual/multilingual person to switch or mix their languages is due to the lack of equivalent lexicon in the languages. When an English- Indonesian bilingual has a word that is lacking in English, he will find it easier to say it in Indonesian. And vice versa, when he has a word that is lacking in Indonesian, he will use the English term. If it put into Indonesian, the meaning will be hazy / vague, and sometime it would not be used. For example, in Indonesia, the technical topics are firmly associated with English and the topic itself can trigger a switch or mix to/with English.

• According to Harding and Riley (in Komsiyah, 2002),there are some reasons in using code mixing:

1.      The bilingual probably forget to the term for something in the language. she or he is currently speaking. 

2.      The language being spoken may not have term for a particular concept of the bilingual wants to refer to.

3.      A word which is similar in both languages and name may trigger a switch.  

4.      Language mixing can also be used to express emotion of close personal relationship.

In addition, Suwito (1983) explains that there are three reasons why code mixing occurs in conversation :

:1. Role identification such as social, educational and register role.

 2. Variant identification refers to the kinds of language used by the user.

 3. Social status identity that refers to the sense for people to be supposed aseducated people when they use certain language.

• Reasons why people use code switching :

1.      Affection. 

2.      To Persuade Audience 

3.      It helps us convey a thought 

4.      We want to say something in secret

5.      We want to get something

6.      We want to fit in  

7.      Our take over

Sources :
http://eprints.undip.ac.id/2704/2/ANALYSIS_OF_CODE_SWITCHING_AND_CODE_MIXING_IN_THE_TEENLIT_CANTING_CANTIQ_BY_DYAN_NURANINDYA.pdf