The Reasons for Code Switching
23 6. Facility of Expression
In accordance with this study, this kind of reason refers to the lack of Indonesian equivalence for certain words in English. For example, the words
“online”, “browser” and “server” do not have exact equivalent words in Bahasa Indonesia. Thus people tend to use the original English words.
In order to have more understanding about the reasons for code switching, the writer also referees theories proposed by another linguist. According to Malik
1994, p. 16, there are ten communicative reasons of code switching. These reasons are lack of facility, lack of register, mood of the speaker, emphasizing a
point, habitual experience, semantic significance, showing identity with a group, addressing a different audience, pragmatic reasons, and attraction. Each will be
described in the following pages. 1. Lack of Facility
Malik 1994, p. 10 defines that “bilinguals or multilingual often explain
that they code switch when they cannot find an appropriate expression or vocabulary item or when the language of conversation does not have the particular
word needed to carry on the conversation smoothly”. In accordance with this research, this reason is related to the lack of equivalent words in Bahasa
Indonesia. The writer offered an example below
“Seafood adalah makanan langka di musim penghujan”
[Seafood is a rare food in rainy season]. From this example, the word “seafood” has familiar meaning rather than the
equivalent word in Bahasa Indonesia “makanan hasil laut”. Thus, people tend to
use the original English words “seafood”. In addition, lack of facility also refers to
24 the habitual English expressions which are used in some contexts and situations.
There are many English expressions commonly used in Indonesia. As a result, this kind of situation creates a tendency in which people use English expression rather
than equivalent expressions in Bahasa Indonesia. 2. Lack of Register
It is the condition in which a speaker is not equally competent in two languages, and when the speaker does not know the terms in two languages. In
certain occupation code switching takes place in the speech of doctors, lawyers, engineers while they interact among themselves owing to the fact that proper
terms in Bahasa Indonesia or in any other language other than English may not be available to them. As a result, people employ the English term that they use
familiar with, for example in this case below.
[3] Tadi itu yang falsetto yang bagian belakangnya doang, saya yang
nambahin. [The falsetto is just in the ending part, I add some].
Sunset Dive September 18, 2013 3. Mood of the Speaker
Malik 1994, p. 17 claims that when bilinguals are tired or angry, code switching takes place with a new dimension. This means, when the speaker is in
the certain state of mind, heshe can spontaneously find the certain English expressions that can represent his annoyance.
In the writer‟s opinion, this reason also emphasizes on personal expression or feeling of the speaker toward situation.
4. Emphasizing a Point Switching is also used to emphasize a certain point of information. Auer
1998, p. 275 reports several instances in which a switch at the end of an
25 argument not only helps to and the interaction but may serve to emphasize a point.
In this case the switching aims to give a stress and to add more force to the statement.
5. Habitual Experience Malik 1994, p. 19
stresses the fact that “code switching often occurs in fixed phrases of greeting and parting, commands and request, invitation,
expressions of gratitude and discourse markers.” In this reason, people use code switching because the expressions used have been a habitual experience in daily
life. For example, the announcer opens the program,
“Good afternoon listeners.
Ketemu lagi dengan saya.
” In this case, “good afternoon” is considered as
habitual experience since it is an example of greeting expression. 6. Semantic Significance
All stress that switching at a particular moment conveys semantically significant information Gumperz 1982, p. 171. It is a communicative resource
that builds on participant‟s perception of two languages. Drawing upon this quotation, switching may also serve as an implicit purpose which is only known
by particular speakers in certain specific information. 7. Showing Identity with a Group
Pietro 1977, as cited in Malik, 1994, p. 20 states that Italian immigrants would tell a joke in English and give the punch line in Italian, not only because it
was better said in Italian but also to stress the fact that they all belong to the same minority group, with shared values and experiences.
26 8. Addressing a Different Audience
Malik 1994, p. 21 states that “Code switching is also used when the
speaker intends to address people coming from various linguistic backgrounds.” The writer gives an illustration as the example, Yosie, who is Javanese, was
talking to Bagas, who is also Javanese. They were accustomed to use Bahasa Jawa in their conversation. During the conversation, suddenly Simatupang was
not being able to speak Bahasa Jawa, Yosie and Bagas directly switched the language into Bahasa Indonesia. It aimed to make Simatupang could be able to
join in the discussion. 9. Pragmatic Reason
Sometimes the alternation between two languages is highly meaningful in terms of the conversational context. Gumperz 1970, as cited in Grosjean, 2001, p.
152 notes that switching may emphasize varying degrees between speakers. As an example, a Javanese student was talking with his lecturer at campus. In some
expression, he switched the language with krama alus in order to have a more polite meaning than used Bahasa Indonesia. In addition, this switching is used to
show respect to the addressee. 10. Attraction
Malik 1994, p. 22 shows that in advertisement both in oral and written, code switching is used to attract attention of readers or listeners. In advertisement
in Indonesia both spoken and written, it is found that there are many code switching occurrence. For instance, an advertisement promotes the campaign of
Clear hair model , “Clear Hair Model 2013, jadilah terkenal dengan rambut kuat
27 dan indahmu
” [Clear Hair Model 2013, be more famous with your strong and beautiful hair]
. From this example, the words “Hair Model” are used to attract and to ensure readers that the product is fabulous.
Some additional reasons for code switching are explained by Holmes 2001, pp. 25
–26, there are social distance, status relationship, formality and function or goal of the interaction. A particular topic may be discussed in one code than
another. Those reasons why people use code-switching in society, whether consciously and unconsciously, will give impact to the using of language in
communication itself. The efficiency of using language makes interaction and communication more efficient than using translated version which probably takes
longer explanation. As a result, people who have consideration in more than one language will get more chance to deal with wider community.