Code Switching Habits in High School

Code Switching Habits in High School
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Code Switching Habits in High School
Code switching has been defined as "change in language within a single speech event (conversation)" (Savil-Treik, 2003). It may also be described as "the alternating use of two or more languages in the same utterance or conversation" (Gardner, 1997). It simply is the shifting between different languages within a single conversation.
Code switching has been presented in different shades by different scholars. According to Myers-Scotton (1995), "code-switching is either inter-sentential or intra-sentential. While inter-sentential code-switching entails switches from one single language to the other in between sentences, intra-sentential switching takes place in a similar sentence, from one morpheme to the clause level". On the other hand, Gumperz (1982) divides code switching into two: situational and conversational switching. According to the author, conversational code-switching is juxtaposition in a similar speech passage exchange that belongs to different subsystems or systems of grammar.
Conversational code-switching tends to subconsciously occur when the speaker is motivated by factors existing in the conversation itself at the time it is taking place. On the other hand, Gumperz (1982) refers to situational switching as alterations in the choice of language because of the situation in which he speaker prevails. This type of code switching may occur at work, school, or public gathering. This is because such places require the use of formal language.
The code switching phenomenon is not quite prevalent in high schools as it is in colleges because of a variety of reasons which include low proficiency in the language and especially among the student fraternity and more in the female population cause of cultivation, prestige, and showing off.
Much of what happens is borrowing more than code switching. "Generally, borrowing occurs in the lexicon, while code-switching occurs at either the syntax level or the utterance construction level" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code-switching). "They only use some common English borrowed words that are known to many people such as 'thanks', 'hello', 'sorry', 'bye', 'excuse' me…etc." Males do not practice much of code switching cause of their lack of good knowledge of English that would enable them to code-switch, and their lack of interest in code-switching as part of their daily speech.
Code switching also flourishes in certain circles more than others, students and indeed teachers too come from different groups and these are said to influence ones’ ability and also number of times one code switches. These circles have been termed as social networks. A social network has been described as "a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called "nodes", which are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code-switching).
Code switching is also prevalent in the classroom setup and especially during English lessons particularly in countries which English is not the native language. There are various reasons given by the teachers for this particular code switching. "Both of the subjects stated that there were many reasons for E...