Code switching between English and other languages - Essay Example

In bilingual or multilingual communities the use of language occurs in a harmonizing way as the speaker shifts between languages as to execute their function which can be either approaching economic need or developing a friendly relationship. Lets take an example of a dialogue held between two Indian speakers who are code-switching between English, Hindi and Kannada. Jayalakshmi, one of the speakers, before presenting her analysis of the conversation held with her friend with reference to code-switching introduces herself as a multilingual.

India, a large part of south Asia, remained under British rule for almost ninety years and during this period English remained an official language so it was widely learnt formally. Even after getting independence English remained there as an official language and Hindi became the national language. According to Hewings and Tagg Language policy is introduced in a country by its politicians when a huge political change takes place e.g. after independence or a war. The official language of a country gets a high status and used at institutional, government and international level whereas the national language is marked for its national identity which possesses social and cultural values (Hewings and Tagg (edds) 2012).

From Jaya’s commentary we come to know that she speaks a variety of languages which include Hindi as her national language, Kannada as her mother tongue, Bengali as her neighbours communicated in it and some other regional languages. When we hear Jaya’s conversation with her colleague on her workplace we apprehend that English has been used as an official language. Nitin speaks most of English while discussing an official problem and his switching less to other languages is an outcome of the influence of Jaya’s abode which is England.

It is noteworthy that Jaya who is supposed to bring a solution to Nitin’s problem unconsciously switch to