Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 12. Number4 December 2021 Pp. 118-131
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no4.8
Arabic English Code Switching among Saudi Speakers
Ahmed Ibrahim Alsalami
Department of English, Faculty of Science and Arts in Qilwah
Al-Baha University
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Email: A.alslamei@bu.edu.sa
Received: 7/17/202 Accepted: 10/5/2021 Published: 12/15/2021
Abstract
Many studies have been conducted on code-switching worldwide, but few were carried out on Saudi context. Therefore, this study inquires the use of code-switching among Saudis who speak both Arabic and English to identify the reasons of code-switching and to know the significant differences regarding gender, age, qualification, and level of English. The study raises two questions. They are: 1) What are the reasons of code-switching of Saudis as native speakers of Arabic? And 2) Are there significant differences for code-switching of Saudis as native speakers of Arabic due to gender, age, qualification, and level of English? A descriptive-analytical approach has been adopted, and SPSS program is used. A questionnaire (30 items) was distributed to a sample of 426 Saudis. Findings showed that those with high-level proficiency combined Arabic and English languages more due to their awareness of English language expressions and found English vocabulary more expressive and delivered their ideas better. Moreover, working people used code-switching extensively. Furthermore, postgraduates were found to be better than others. Additionally, genders were both exposed to the same circumstances. Finally, individuals among all age groups combined both Arabic and English languages due perhaps to several reasons. Therefore, the researcher recommends that it might be better to study the significance of forming training courses to keep the interest of natives to take pride and use it in all aspects of life. Finally, the researcher suggests conducting another study on investigating code-switching among instructors in EFL classrooms and exploring code-mixing since there are few studies.
Keywords: Code-switching, English studies, Linguistics, Saudis native speakers, sociolinguistics
Cite as: Alsalami, A. I. (2021). Arabic English Code Switching among Saudi Speakers. Arab World English Journal, 12 (4) 118-131.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no4.8
References
Alenezi A. A. (2010). Students’ Language Attitude towards Using Code-Switching as A Medium of Instruction in The College of Health Sciences: An Exploratory Study, Arecls, 7(1), 22-1
AL-Hourani, A., & Afiza, T. (2013). Code switching in daily conversation. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 1(1), 40-43.
Al-Khatib, H. (2003). Language Alternation among Arabic and English Youth Bilinguals: Reflecting or Constructing Social Realities? International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, VI(6), 409-422.
Amorim, R. (2012). Code switching in student-student interaction; functions and reasons, Revista de Estudos Linguísticos da Univerdade do Porto, 7, 177 – 195
Ataş U. (2012). Discourse Functions of Students’ and Teachers’ Code-Switching in EFL Classrooms: A Case Study in a Turkish University, (Unpublished Thesis).
Ayeomoni, M.O. (2006) Code-Switching and Code-Mixing: Style of Language Use in Childhood in Yoruba Speech Community. Nordic Journal of African Studies, 15(1), 90–99.
Bloom, J. P., & Gumperz, J. (1972). Social Meaning in Linguistic Structures: Code-Switching in Norway. In J. Gumperz, & D. Hymes (Eds.), Directions in sociolinguistics. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Bista, K. (2010). Factors of Code Switching among Bilingual English Students in the University Classroom: A Survey. English for Specific Purposes World, 9(29), 1-19.
Botztepe, E. (2003). Issues in Code-Switching: Competing Theories and Models. Working Papers in TESOL and Applied Linguistics, 3(2), 1-27. Available at http://www.tc.columbia.edu/academic/tesol/Webjournal/
Bullock, B., & Toribio, A. (Eds.). (2009). The Cambridge Handbook of Linguistic Code-switching (Cambridge Handbooks in Language and Linguistics). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511576331
De Fina, A. (2007). Code-switching and the construction of ethnic identity in a community of practice. Language in Society, 36, 371-392.
Dykhanova, A. (2015). Functions of Code-Switching and Attitudes toward Them: A Case Study. Eastern Mediterranean University
Gardnar- Chloros, P. (2009). Contact and Code Switching. R. Hickey, (ed.), The Handbook of Language Contact (pp. 527-530). Cambridge University Press.
Gumperz, J.J. (1982). Conversational Code Switching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Holmes, J. (2000). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (2nd ed.). Wellington: Longman.
Ja’afar, N.S., & Maarof, N. (2016) Teachers’ Beliefs of Code Switching in the ESL Classroom. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 4, 212-222 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jss.2016.44030
Leung, C. (2006). Codeswitching in print advertisements in Hong Kong and Sweden. General Linguistics. Retrieved from: https://lup.lub.lu.se/studentpapers/search/publication?q=author+exact+%22Leung%2C+Carrie%22
Masrahi, N. (2016). Causes of Code Switching by Low Level EFL Learners at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia: A Teachers’ Perspective. Journal of Language, Linguistics and Literature, 2(4), 24-31
Myers-Scotton, C. (1993). Social motivations for codeswitching: Evidence from Africa. Oxford: Clarendon.
Nerghes, A. (2011). The Impact of Code-Switching on Persuasion: An Elaboration Likelihood Perspective. Wageningen University.
Nilep, C. (2006). Code Switching” in Sociocultural Linguistics. Colorado Research in Linguistics, 19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25810/hnq4-jv62
Parveen, S., & Aslam, S. (2013). A Study on Reasons for Code-Switching in Facebook by Pakistani Urdu English Bilinguals. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A-Study-on-Reasons-for-Code-Switching-in-Facebook-Parveen-Aslam/cc8266aa462f1719dff816dc6df90986550d8ecf
Poplack, S. (1980). Sometimes I ll start a sentence in Spanish y termino en Español: Toward a typology of code-switching. Linguistics, 18, 581- 618. Retrieved from http://www.uottawa.ca/acade mic/arts/sociolinguistics/shana poplack/francais/pubs/articles/ Poplack1980a.pdf
Sharaf Eldin. A. A. T. (2014). Socio Linguistic Study of Code Switching of the Arabic Language Speakers on Social Networking, International Journal of English Linguistics, 4(6), 78-86.
Shin, S.Y. (2010). The functions of code-switching in a Korean Sunday school. Heritage Language Journal, 7(1), 91-116
Turjoman, M. (2016). A New Phenomenon in Saudi Females’ Code-switching: A Morphemic Analysis. International Academic Centre, Australia, 7(6), 91-96.
Yletyinen, H. (2004). The Functions of Codeswitching in EFL Classroom Discourse, (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). University of Jyväskylä.