Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: The Functions Of Using Code Switching On Facebook By EFL Learners

Abstract
Since Facebook is the one of the Social Network Sites (SNS) that become the
most favorite communication tool on the Internet, the term usage and practices
become the dominant factors which influence the language used. Code-switching
becomes the alternative way to use more than one language in a context. It is a
language phenomenon where code switching can not be avoided. This research
examined the function of code-switching in asynchronous computer-mediated
communication (CMC) between bilingual university students via Facebook. A
functional approach was used in analyzing the various functions of codeswitching.
20 bilingual students of the Faculty of Language and Literature, Satya Wacana
Christian University who had fulfilled the criteria were chosen to share their
bilingualism experiences in updating their Facebook status and comments. The
data were extracted, classified, and gathered into several catagories based on the
six functions of code-switching by Appel and Muysken’s (2006). This discussion
used the clear transcription of the interview result to classify the answers that
belong to the classification provided. The classification of 20 status and comments
were arranged based on the answer of my participants. Some factual information
was taken from their Facebook account as the evidence. The results proved that
code-switching in online communication mostly to serve expressive, phatic,
directive and metalinguistic functions.