The Reasons for Code-Switching

Crystal 1987 as cited by Skiba in Code Switching as a Countenance of Language Interference identifies three reasons why people employ code-switching in their communication. First, there is a possibility that a speaker may not be able to express her or himself in one language so she or he switches to another language to compensate for the deficiency. Someone’s language competence, even in her or his native language, may be limited. For a multilingual person who is able to speak more than one language, switching the language that she or he uses may be the best answer for the deficiency problem. Second, code-switching is used because someone wants to express solidarity with a particular social group of speakers. She or he may use a language which is used to show her or his sympathy or express what they fell toward others. Almost every ethnic group has a vernacular language or dialect, and switching the language toward the language of a particular ethnic group can be one way to express solidarity toward the group. Third, someone applies code-switching as a sort of variation in the level of formality of her or his speech. A speaker has to be able to decide the opportunity when to use each of them appropriately. Someone may accidentally change the degree of the formality of the language by code-switching. It is needed to give special effect of the relationship such as to build intimate relationship. Meanwhile, Wardhaugh 1992: 106 provides three reasons for code- switching. The first reason is to express solidarity with the listeners. Language can be used as a bridge of solidarity. People may choose a language from a certain 14 country or ethnic group to show their solidarity toward the people from that country or ethnic group besides to build the more intimate atmosphere or relationship. The second reason is because of the choice of topic. In a conversation, people often switch the topic under discussion. A particular language might be appropriate to discuss a certain topic. The change of the topic might be also accompanied by language switching so the variety of the language can be appropriate with the new topic. The last reason for code-switching given by Wardhaugh is that someone uses code-switching because she or he perceives social and cultural distance. It is related to the level of formality of the language. Someone may choose an informal variety if she or he talks to her or his friend, on the other hand, a formal-standard variety will be the best choice if she or he talks to her or his teachers since there is social distance.

4. Code-Switching and Language Learning

Cook 1991 as cited by Skiba in Code Switching as a Countenance of Language Interference agrees that code-switching can be used to help the process of language learning. He describes the Institute of Linguistics examinations in Languages for International Communication test as one which uses code switching. At beginners’ level, students may use the second language to obtain some information from materials such as a travel brochure or a phone message to answer comprehension questions in the first language. At advanced stages, the students may be required to research a topic and provide a report in the first language. 15 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

B. Theoretical Framework

In order to conduct a systematic study, I organize this theoretical framework to explain the procedures organized to accomplish this study. There are five steps presented in this theoretical framework. 1. Conducting preliminary observation of code-switching in ‘HAI’ teenage magazine By conducting preliminary observation of the code-switching in ‘HAI’ teenage magazine, I can obtain an overview of the language phenomenon being studied. The results of this process can be very useful for further processes since the preliminary observation may give me basic description of code-switching in the magazine. So, this step is also important in this study. 2. Conducting a confirmation of code-switching to the editorial staff of ‘HAI’ teenage magazine Conducting a confirmation of the existence of code-switching in ‘HAI’ teenage magazine to the editorial staff of the magazine is also needed. The information that I receive from them, as the informants of this study, hopefully can give me salient comprehension of the existence of code-switching in the magazine. 3. Collecting the code-switching cases which exist in ‘HAI’ teenage magazine By listing the code-switching cases on an observation form, I may gain much help in the process of analyzing the data. It can also give the readers a clear description of code-switching cases in ‘HAI’ teenage magazine. 4. Analyzing the types of code-switching in ‘HAI’ teenage magazine 16 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI