Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling Jaya

The multi linguistic and multi-racial environment of a country like Malaysia is not only rich in cultures, traditions and food, but also in the varieties of languages (including dialects) used among speakers of the country. This phenomenon of using a variety of languages (including dialects) to per...

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Main Author: Ching Hei Kuang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Malaya 2017-06-01
Series:Journal of Modern Languages
Online Access:http://jml.um.edu.my/index.php/JML/article/view/3538
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author Ching Hei Kuang
author_facet Ching Hei Kuang
author_sort Ching Hei Kuang
collection DOAJ
description The multi linguistic and multi-racial environment of a country like Malaysia is not only rich in cultures, traditions and food, but also in the varieties of languages (including dialects) used among speakers of the country. This phenomenon of using a variety of languages (including dialects) to perform speech functions has been identified by studies as code switching although such studies do not mention dialects. A phenomenon most commonly found among bilingual or multilingual societies, code switching has become an important issue in the studies of language and language use among people, communities and societies. Described as being the "most creative aspect of bilingual speech" (Hoffman 1991), it has also been seen as a mark of 'linguistic decay" and "a sign of laziness" (ibid.) The aim of this article is to examine why members of an urban family code switch among themselves. It also hopes to identify some of the factors that may lead to code switching and also to ascertain whether there is a certain amount of language consciousness on the part of the participants to fulfil certain purposes/functions and, if so, why?
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spelling doaj-art-01cc679267ca4246b7d4be81075c4ac52025-08-20T02:04:43ZengUniversiti MalayaJournal of Modern Languages1675-526X2462-19862017-06-01121Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling JayaChing Hei Kuang0University of Malaya, Malaysia The multi linguistic and multi-racial environment of a country like Malaysia is not only rich in cultures, traditions and food, but also in the varieties of languages (including dialects) used among speakers of the country. This phenomenon of using a variety of languages (including dialects) to perform speech functions has been identified by studies as code switching although such studies do not mention dialects. A phenomenon most commonly found among bilingual or multilingual societies, code switching has become an important issue in the studies of language and language use among people, communities and societies. Described as being the "most creative aspect of bilingual speech" (Hoffman 1991), it has also been seen as a mark of 'linguistic decay" and "a sign of laziness" (ibid.) The aim of this article is to examine why members of an urban family code switch among themselves. It also hopes to identify some of the factors that may lead to code switching and also to ascertain whether there is a certain amount of language consciousness on the part of the participants to fulfil certain purposes/functions and, if so, why? http://jml.um.edu.my/index.php/JML/article/view/3538
spellingShingle Ching Hei Kuang
Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling Jaya
Journal of Modern Languages
title Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling Jaya
title_full Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling Jaya
title_fullStr Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling Jaya
title_full_unstemmed Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling Jaya
title_short Factors affecting code switching: A case study of an urban family in Petaling Jaya
title_sort factors affecting code switching a case study of an urban family in petaling jaya
url http://jml.um.edu.my/index.php/JML/article/view/3538
work_keys_str_mv AT chingheikuang factorsaffectingcodeswitchingacasestudyofanurbanfamilyinpetalingjaya