Code switching and code mixing
It is another
effect of language contact. The term Code means language or language variety.
Code mixing
Involves the
use of one langage with a mixture of the some words from another language. Foe
example, look at the following two sentences and say which language each
speaker is basically using between English
and Swahili.
a)
Nilijaribu
kwenda home kwao, nilipofika nikapose nje kucheki kama ataibuka”
b)
There are two pieces of khanga and
some Uhuru branch, but Ungo, mbuzi and kinyonga are missing”
Code switching
It involves the
use of two languages at the same time of communication. In this the user uses
two different languages alternatively. For example;
“Nilipofika
sikumkuta. I will try to go there again tomorrow, labda nitamkuta.
Types ofd switching
i)
Tag – switching. Is a type of code switching in which tags in one language are
inserted into an utterance of another language. Example;
I think you understand, Au sio bwana?
Hapa tunaenda hivi, Right? Kisha tunafanya hivi, am right?
ii)
Intra sentential switching. Is a type of code switching in
which switches occur within a clause or sentence boundary. Example;
Mvulana aliyekuja alikua ni one of those guys waliokuwa na pockets
of cocaine.
iii)
Inter sentential switching. Is a type of code switching in
which switch occurs out of a clause or sentence boundary. Example;
Nilitaka kuja nyumbani kwako lakini I had to postpone kwa sababu
nilipata dharura, labda I will come there this weekend”
iv)
Intra-word switching. Is a type of code switching in which a change occurs within a
word boundary. Example kujiselfisha , kujismartisha etc.
v)
Inter – word switching. Is a type of code switching in
which change occurs between words of different languages. Example, Ugali and
mchicha fine lakini I like ugali and maharage more.
Code switching can also be;
a)
Situational code switching.
This refers to the tendency in a bilingualism or multilingual
community to use different languages or language varieties in different social
situations or to switch varieties in order to mark a change in situation. A
good example is when someone changes topic or participants.
b)
Metaphorical code switching.
It refers to the tendency in a bilingualism or multilingual
community to switch codes in conversation in order to discuss a topic that
would normally fall into another conversational domain. For example, at a
family dinner, where you would expect to hear a more colloquial, less
prestigious variety, family members might switch to a highly prestigious in
order to discuss school or work.
Reasons for code switching/mixing
The
language experts have outlined a number of reasons why do people code-switch or
code mix.
i.
Prestige: this involves deliberate use of two different languages to show
off, as when one wants to show others that he/she is a learned person.
ii.
Filling lexical gaps: as when one of the languages lacks some words or vocabulary items
iii.
Low language proficiency. As when a
person speaks a language that he she does not master well, so he/she has to add
up words from the language he/she masters.
iv.
Seeking privacy: as when a speaker does not want the whole message to be
understood by another person or other people apart from the one addressed.
v.
Mimicry: when one mimics a by imitating the way he /she said it in a
different language.
vi.
Language influence: as when someone speaks a language that has been influenced by
another language. Example Kiswahili has a number of Arabic and English loan
words.
vii.
Decision: as when some people just decide to code switch or code mixes for none
of the reasons.
viii.
Translation: as when one says something in one language and says it again in
another language, so that other could understand.
ix.
Clarification: as when says something in another language for fear the addressee
(s) may not have understand it in the first language used.
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