14 According to some linguists’ perspective about code-switching, it can be
concluded that code-switching is a product of language alternation in the same utterances. This change is indeed expected to have the same meaning.
b. Reasons of Code-Switching
According to Gumperz 1982 in his book Discourse Strategies, code- switching has communicative functions which is to create a conversational effect.
It is called personalization function of language. Thus, code-switching is used to build an effective communication between people who are involved. The use of
code-switching functions as a bridge to help people to have a better understanding of information in communication.
Gumperz 1982 proposed some functions of code-switching: quotation, addressee specification, repetition, interjection, message qualification,
personalization, and facility of expression. 1.
Quotation Code-switching refers to this function when a subject of code-switching
quotes themselves and others to state slogan or maxim, and to sound more credible to the addressses. This is as a proof that what he is saying is a fact and the
addressee has to believe it. As an example, when a radio broadcaster said, “…cause he told me kalau ternyata dia sudah…”, the code-switching words “he
told me” forms a quotation thatis quoted by cool jockey from other person indirectly to sound more credible to the listeners to believe him.
15 2.
Addressee specification In this second function, this type of switching aims to direct message to a
spesific person. This type of switching is recognizing not only the interacting members of the speech events but it is recognizing that their language behaviour
may be more than merely a matter of individuals preference or facility, but also a matter of role relations. As an example, in the Indonesian social networking
“Kaskus”, there is a word agan. Actually, this word is used to call people who are involved in general discussion of kaskus. In addition, this word is only used for
kaskus user, and it is not used in any other Indonesian social networking. 3.
Repetition Sometimes a message can be spoken two times, either in the same
language or in different language. The repetition which is said in different language has some reasons. Repetition may serve to clarify what is said and
emphasize the message. In repetition, the span of time between the original and the repeated message is very short. As an example, “Apa yang kamu makan
menentukan kesehatan diri kamu seperti apa. You are what you eat”. From this example, the English utterance which came after Indonesian utterance aims to
clarify and emphasize the message which preceded the English utterance. 4. Sentence filler
Codes-switching also serves to mark interjection or sentence filler. Some sentence fillers which are common in English are by the way, anyway, you know,
well, like, so, etc. These expressions are usually used as a pause when a subject is thinking what he is going to say. Because of the common use of these expressions
16 in many situations and contexts, people are sometimes unaware that they switch
the language using those sentence filler expressions in their conversation. 5. Message qualification
Message qualification deals with the switching that consists of qualifying constructions, such as clauses, phrases and sentences. The main message is
sometimes in Bahasa Indonesia and in English. When it is in Bahasa Indonesia, the following English phrases or sentences are used to qualify message or vice
versa. As an example, “Dia sedang menyusun dissertasi untuk PhD tentang dissability people around the world”. Here, the main message is in Indonesian,
while the English phrase serves to give more information to the reader what the dissertation is about.
6. Personalization In this function, the switching reflects personal opinion, feeling, and
knowledge of the speaker. As some English expressions are familiar in some situations and contexts, a speaker might feel that English is more personal when
talking about a difficult situation and therefore it describes his feeling better. Some English expressions such as “I miss you” and “ I love you” are commonly
found. People find it strange and awkward to say “ Aku rindu kamu” or “aku cinta kamu”. These expressions are not commonly found in real life. Therefore, people
tend to use English expressions as it is more convenient and does not look strange. 7. Facility of expression
In accordance with this study, this kind of function refers to the lack of Indonesian equivalence for certain words in English. For example, the words
17 “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 a broader knowledge about the functions of code-
switching, the writer also referred theories proposed by another linguist. Malik 1994 in her book Socio-Linguistics : A Study of Code-Switching defines some
reasons of code-switching. According to Malik, there are ten communicative reasons of code-switching. These reasons are lack of facility, lack of register,
mood of the speaker, to emphasize a point, habitual experience, semantic significance, to show identity with a group, to address a different audience,
pragmatic reasons, and to attract attention. 1.
Lack of facility Malik 1994:16 defined that “bilinguals or multilinguals 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 kesukaan saya.”
From this example, the word “seafood” brings smooth meaning rather than the equivalent word in Bahasa Indonesia “makanan hasil laut”. Thus, people tend
to use the original English word “seafood”. In addition, lack of facility also refers to the habitual English expressions
which are used in some contexts and situation. There are many English
18 expressions which are commonly used in Indonesia. Indonesian prefers to use the
word event to acara or nge-print to mencetak. 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 occupations 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 are familiar with.
3. Mood of the speaker
Malik 1994 claims that usually 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 he encounters.
4. To emphasize a point
Switching is also used to emphasize a certain point of information. Gal 1979 reports several instances in which a switch at the end of an argument not
19 only helps to end 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 1994:17 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 experince in daily life. For example, in Radio broadcast in Indonesia, the broadcaster often says, “Good
morning Listeners. Ketemu lagi dengan saya.” In this case, “good morning” is considered as habitual experience since it is an example of greeting expression.
6. Semantic significance
As cited by Muthusamy in Communicative Functions and Reasons for Code-Switching: Malaysian Perspective, Malik 1994, Gumperz 1970, 1976,
1982, and Gumperz and Hernandez 1972 all stress that switching at a particular moment conveys semantically significant information. 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.
To show identity with a group Di Pietro 1977 as cited in Malik 1994 reports 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.
20 8.
To address a different audience Malik 1994:17 states that “code switching is also used when the speaker
intends to address people coming from various linguistic backgrounds.” The writer gives an illlustration as the example below:
Jono, who is Javanese, was talking to Temon, who is also Javanese. Since they are originally from Java, they were accustomed to use Bahasa Jawa in their
conversation. During the conversation, suddenly Simatupang, who is from Batak, came and joined in their discussion. Knowing that Simatupang was not able to
speak Bahasa Jawa, Jono and Temon directly switched the language into bahasa Indonesia. It aimed to make Simatupang could be able to join in the discussion.
9. Pragmatic reasons
Sometimes the alternation between two languages is highly meaningful in terms of the conversational context. Gumperz 1970 also notes that switching
may emphasize varying degrees of speaker’s involvement. In this case, the switching happens because there is different 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. To attract attention
Malik 1994 shows that in advertisement both in oral and written, codes-switching is used to attract attention of readerslisteners. In advertisement in
Indonesia both spoken and written, it is found that there are many code-
21 switching occurence. For example, an advertisement in written context, “
Samsung Camera PL 150 memang cool banget Semua mata pasti melirikmu.”
From this example, the word “cool” is used to attract and to ensure readers that the product is fabulous and the best one.
c. Advantages and Disadavantages of Code-Switching Application
