CODE-MIXING AND CODE-SWITCHING.

CODE-MIXING AND CODE-SWITCHING.

These Terms are used in Sociolinguistics. These terms especially refer to a kind of speech
that draws to differing extents or at least two languages combined in different ways.
Mixing and switching probably occur to some extent in the speech of all bilinguals and
multilingual modes .

In the course of research of code change it has become clear that code-switching and code-
mixing can be investigated from different perspectives. Researchers focused on code
change after they had realized that linguistic forms and practices are interrelated. And
code-switching/-mixing, in their turn, embodies not only variation, but the link between
linguistic form and language use as social practice.

In advertisements, TV commercials, and day-to-day conversations we can get numerous

examples of code-mixing and switching. The reason for code switching and code mixing
may be intentional or unintentional. Some times codes are changed or mixed for getting
fluency at other times for the convenience of the listener.

The Definition of Code

It is “a mechanism for the unambiguous transduction of signals between systems”

A code may be a language or a variety or style of a language; ----In communications, a

code is a rule for converting a piece of information (for example, a letter, word, or phrase)
into another form or representation, not necessarily of the same sort.

Therefore, term “code” is frequently used nowadays by the linguists as an “umbrella term
for languages, dialects, styles etc”

CODE-SWITCHING AND CODE-MIXING

The Term “code switching” refers to alternation between different varieties used by the
bilingual/bidialectal during the conversational interaction where as “code-mixing” is the
embedding of various linguistic units such as affixes (bound morphemes), words (unbound
morphemes), phrases and clauses from a cooperative activity where the participants, in
order to in infer what is intended, must reconcile what they hear with what they
understand.
In short alternation of codes is switching and embedding of code is mixing. Switching is
generally seen outside a clause structure and mixing is generally seen inside a clause
structure. While switching the codes syntax or grammar of both the varieties work their
own. While mixing the codes the syntax of one code intervenes the other.

Code switching is not a display of deficient language knowledge: a grammarless mixing

of two languages. Instead it is a phenomenon through which its users express a range of
meanings. By code switching, which occurs mostly in conversation, the choice of speech
alerts the participants to the interaction of the context and social dimension within which
the conversation is taking place. The phenomenon of code switching is examined from a
conversational analysis perspective, and as such is viewed as interactive exchanges
between members of a bilingual speech community. Code switching mostly occurs where
the syntax of two languages often align.

Very often the expression code mixing is used synonymously with code switching and
means basically intra-sentential code switching. However, recent research has given new
meaning to this term. Maschler (1998) defines code mixing or a mixed code as “using
two languages such that a third, new code emerges, in which elements from the two
languages are incorporated into a structurally definable pattern” (p.125) In other
words, the code mixing hypothesis states that when two code switched languages
constitute the appearance of a third code it has structural characteristics special to that new
code.

Types of Code- Mixing

Code-mixing is one of the major kinds of language choice which is subtler than ‘code-
switching’, as stated by Fasold (1984). In code- mixed sentences, pieces of the one
language are used while a speaker is basically using another language. There are mainly
two types of Code Mixing

1) Mixing of Rules of syntax

Here some of the codes of a particular language are mixed with other as to produce a third
code for example

adding morphemes such as “...ing” , “tion” etc.

Chakki pissing aur pissing

No rattafication

2) Mixing of phrases and words

Some of the phrases and words of a particular language are mixed in such a way that they
look as an integral part of the sentence.

Yahi ya right spelling

Ma Ek cultural programme organise karunga

TYPES OF CODE SWITCHING

(1) Intra-sentential switching, in which switches occur within a clause or sentence.

Keep quite jaldi se and finish it /

(2) Intersentential switching, in which a change of language occurs at a clause or

sentence boundary, where each clause or sentence is in one language or the other, as when
in Hindi /English bilingual says:Sometimes I'll start a sentence in English aur khatam
Hindi me karata hu.

(3) Extra Sentential Tag-switching, in which tags and certain set phrases in one language
are inserted into an utterance otherwise in another, as when a Panjabi/English bilingual
says: I think ki you are a joker

Look at the following sentences to understand it

I was all patient but Usne mujhe galiya di
(Code Switching)

Ek Change Milega
(Code Mixing)

Thoda Adjust Kijiye

(Code Mixing)

I Think tum really pagal ho ?

(Code Switching)

I got a chance but meri kismat hi kharab thi

(Code Switching)

Koi na we will see

(Code Switching)

Yaha ka Folk dance mujhe achha lagata ha

(Code Mixing)

No Rattafication
(Code Mixing)

Types of Code- switching

There are three major types of switching:

Some features of Code Switching and Mixing

1. The two phenomena must be distinguished, because each makes a different linguistic
and psycholinguistic claim. For instance, CS does not necessitate the interaction of the
grammatical rules of the language pair involved in the speech event, whereas CM does.

2. CM typically involves the use of two languages at a time, although occasionally three
are used. Regardless of the number of languages involved in the discourse, the language
that provides the grammatical structure into which elements are inserted is referred to as
the host while the other is termed the guest language.

For example in the utterance “Teacheron” the guest language is English and Host language
is Hindi. ( The syntax of Hindi is borrowed here)

3. Tag-switching refers to insertion of tags such as you know and I mean in sentences
that are completely in the other language. According to Romaine (1995), tags are “subject
to minimal syntactic restrictions”, therefore the insertion into a monolingual utterance does
not violate syntactic rules.

Different Functions of Code Switching

1. The Referential function, according to which a switch occurs because of the “lack of
knowledge of one language or lack of facility in that language on a certain subject”.

2.The Directive function “involves the hearer directly”, hence a participant in a

conversation can be excluded/included by employing the language familiar/unfamiliar to
the speaker.

3. In the case of The Expressive function, discussed by Poplack (1980), the speakers
switch code in order to express their “mixed identity”

4. The Phatic function, also known as the metaphorical function, occurs when speaker
switches languages or repeats something in both languages to emphasize it

5. Metalinguistic code-switching is usually employed when the speaker makes

direct/indirect comments on the languages used in conversation, usually to “impress the
other participants with a show of linguistic skills” .( Bacon’s use of Latin in his essays)

6.Finally, the poetic function is involved in “switched puns, jokes”.

STUDENT CODE SWITCHING

EQUIVALENCE.

In this case, the student makes use of the native equivalent of a certain lexical item in
target language and therefore code switches to his/her native tongue.

FLOOR HOLDING

During a conversation in the target language, the students fill the stopgap with native
language use. It may be suggested that this is a mechanism used by the students in order to
avoid gaps in communication, which may result from the lack of fluency in target
language.

REITERATION

“messages are reinforced, emphasized, or clarified where the message has already been
transmitted in one code, but not understood” (1996:306). In this case, the message in target
language is repeated by the student in native tongue through which the learner tries to give
the meaning by making use of a repetition technique.

CONFLICT CONTROL

For the potentially conflictive language use of a student (meaning that the student tends to
avoid a misunderstanding or tends to utter words indirectly for specific purposes), the code
switching is a strategy to transfer the intended meaning.

REVISION TIME

Linguistic units involved are essentially sentences - CS

Require speakers to share the same code repertoire - CM

Sometimes occur to mark eliteness and /or modernness CS and CM

Linguistic units involved are essentially sentences - CS

Require speakers to share the same code repertoire - CM

Sometimes occur to fill lexical gaps - Borrowing

Require/imply changes (e.g. of topic, setting, participants) in the speech situation – CS

Occur to mark confidentially or an aside for explanation - CS

Sometimes occur to mark eliteness and /or modernness CS and CM

Presuppose bilingual competence of the speaker but not necessarily of the hearer – CS

For some people……………………… was regarded as an illegitimate mode of

communication and that’s why some billinguila refuse or avoid it - CS
When people switch languages to either include or exclude other people from the
conversation it is -Directive

It is intrasentential - CM

It implies more the performance of the speakers – CS

It is a language contact phenomenon that reflects the grammar of both languages working
simultaneously – CS

It is not conscious or deliberate- CM

refers to “all cases where lexical items and grammatical features from two languages
appear in one sentence.” CM

It is not only a common occurrence but also communicational requirement - CM