Code Switching In Saudi Females - Research Paper Example

The interest in language contact occurrences such as bilingualism and code-switching has augmented during the last decades. The term ‘language contact phenomena’ was initiated to designate various kinds of language contact phenomena such as code-switching, code-mixing, as well as borrowings. The term also relates to occurrences that are not counted as code-switching, for instance, loans and interference (Jonsson, 2005; p. 23). The study of language contact concentrates more on different kinds of language contact situations as well as different forms of bilingualism.

Nevertheless, the primary matter in bilingualism study is code-switching, the substitute employ of two or more speeches in the same discussion by bilingual speakers (Lesley & Muysken, 1995; p. 11). Code-switching can be seen as a natural product of the bilinguals’ interaction in two or more languages in multilingual and multicultural communities. According to Haugen (1956), bilinguals have a propensity to employ or form sentences that have fundamentals from both speeches particularly in the initial phases of the language progress.

It is normal for a speaker who speaks two or more tongues effortlessly to switch between them irregularly or recurrently when chatting to other people who speak the same languages. It also appears that if a speaker spends most of his time in a bilingual or multilingual environment, he or she will begin to switch from one tongue to another. Individuals who have learned more than one language exhibit an interesting phenomenon commonly known as ‘code-switching’ by mixing words or phrases from the two tongues together in the course of speech or writing.

A ‘code’ can be termed as a language or a dialect. Code-switching (CS) is a fluctuation of terms and expressions between two languages or dialects. This normally takes place between persons who share and understand those particular languages. The fluctuation between languages in the form of code-switching is an extensively practical occurrence in foreign language classrooms. Different bi-lingual speakers switch their languages with easiness at various points in conversation or in writing.

Individuals generally switch code in the process of their day by day discussion. Several learned persons who are smooth in English as their subsequent language (L2), frequently utilize code-switching by slotting in English terms, idioms, or sentences into their discussions. Best noted that code-switching is determined by several social and linguistic aspects. It is extensively used in multi-lingual and multi-cultural communities. In Asian countries like Nepal, India, Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia, speakers who are bi-lingual normally have English as their subsequent language (L2) and their primary language (L1) is their mother tongue and parlance (Bista, 2010 p. 2).

The query of why an individual who is experienced in two or more tongues code switch amid these languages is one of the major issues which is examined in the sociolinguistic researches (Reyes, 2004; 4). The aim of this research is to examine the occurrence of code switching among Arab students at Brisbane. The study tries to establish whether Arab students at Brisbane code switch to English and the reasons as to why they code switch to English in daily conversations. There are various reasons as to why the bi-lingual speakers alternate the codes during conversation.

We normally tend to study code switching so as to understand the reason as to why individuals who are proficient in two languages interchange words or phrases in specific circumstances. While code switching has been observed in preceding studies, researchers have not paid attention on the issues touching bi-lingual global students learning English in institutions of higher education. This thesis explores how Saudi female students are affected by code switching and also the aspects that establish code switching amongst non-native speakers of English (Saudi female students in particular) in college level English program.

In the literature review, various terms like code switching, code mixing and linguistic borrowing will be discussed, and various types of code switching will be mentioned as well as the research that has been done on code switching. Then I will discus how code switching has become a site for socio-cultural conflicts in Saudi and other Arab Nations. Women and code switching will as well be discussed and the motivations or reasons for code switching and I will finalize by discussing the research problem.

The paper explores the motivations for code switching among students or peers as a language that is commonly used in social networking such as twitter and face-book. University students have high tendency of using social networks as a form of identifying with others and forming solidarities. I will discuss the factors that motives code switching among the Saudi females. 1.1 Motivation and background The thesis focuses on the factors leading to code switching among Saudi Arabia females students with an aim of developing the main reason as to why the Saudi females code switch from Arabic to English while they could just use Arabic.

It has been noted that most of Saudi females code switch when speaking to their colleagues on normal discussions outside classroom and even in social Medias such as face book, and twitter. When sending short messages or mms, Saudi female students normally mix the two languages; the Arabic and English. The main reason for code switching could be because they find English to be simpler than Arabic or having words that convey the meaning they want to put across. As a result of the multilingual situation, code switching has become a common phenomenon in the learning institutions.

It has been urged by some scholars that the mixture of codes is being used as a first language by the youth. The youth are exposed to the phenomenon in varying degrees, depending on the social network. Their language use is of interest to sociolinguists for the reason that there is a communicative intent in the use of different languages. Code switching as a field of study has a rich and diverse literature comprising of study based on different theoretical models and research methodologies. The prevailing viewpoints in the research of code switching have been either sociolinguistic or grammatical in character.

The sociolinguistic strategy has investigated tongues in contact in bilingual or immigrant societies and concerns itself with the communal and opinionated inspirations for its exercise. For instance, code switching as a conversational strategy has been examined in social networks used by bilingual communities (Milroy and Wei, 1995 p. 24). How code switching assists to operate as a way of recognizing and to line up oneself with a grouping is another aspect that investigators have examined (Barker, 1975; Hill & Hill, 1986; Myers Scotton, 1988, 1993; Myers Scotton & Ury, 1977; Zentella, 1997).