FUNCTIONS OF CODE SWITCHING

Conversational participants are not necessarily aware of the code-switching

behaviors of themselves and their interlocutors, but often display a more subtle meta-

pragmatic awareness of two or more named codes in their repertoires. (Myers-Scotton,

1956)

The following are the researchers findings for the research question 2, the

functions of Code-Switching:

Lexical Need

There are speakers who cannot comprehend what the other speakers are saying

because of the code they use. Thus, code-switching helps them comprehend easily.

Speakers use the affixes most of the time in bisaya I, mag, gi then they add a Filipino or

English word to it. This immediate use of affixes creates a function to their lexical choice,

wherein the speakers code-switched everytime they lack a word for it from the original

code. This function in code-switching is prevalent in intra-word pattern.

Switching may occur because of real lexical need, sometimes because formulaic

expressions in one language cannot be satisfactorily translated into the another,

sometimes because the speaker knows the desired expression only in one language, and

sometime because access to one of the languages is diminished (i.e. process of language

attrition).

Lexical need is prevalent in the utterances of the speakers from the excerpts below:

Excerpt 1.1

A: Alam mo gud (0.3) Kasi…

D: Magpapasa na lang ug picture!
A: Kasi may ano tulad ng last year na ginawa sa sinikom, kadto na lang atong
gamiton. Pero kanang, ano na lang.. Umm.
 D: Pwede to gamiton tong mga picture nato last year? Ganahan ko ato
A: Kinsa tung? Umm. Pwede kung may nakapapicture na. Kung yun ang ano,
yun na lang. (0.3) pero kung hindi natin ma ano… kung.. kanang profile picture
gani nila ang gamitin as ano.
D: AYAW UY!
A: Gani. So kinsa atong ano? Sino atong mag shoot?
D: Ay dili. Sila papilion kung unsa na picture ilang gusto basta as long as more.
Naay I.D. picture ba.
A: Kasi pag ano kasi. Mas makuha natin ang details ng ano ba.
F: Wait lang. may ano na. Like I.D. picture?
D: Oo naa nay format.

The conversation is about the speakers’ discussion for their club I.D. and the mode

for taking I.D picture. In the excerpt, it was observed that speaker A began her sentence

using Tagalog and Bisaya. Speaker A paused her speech while inserting a filler which

implies that Speaker A is thinking of another word that would suffice her explanation. It

could be that Speaker A is still processing what Speaker C asked. The insertion of the

tag words alam mo gud and kasi could mean that Speaker A lacks the vocabulary in the

previous language and at the same time wanted to prolong the speech. On Speaker A’s

second speech, the codes used were Filipino and bisaya while making the speech into

pure bisaya as additional details to the speech.

On the other hand, Speaker D language choice remained constant although

Speaker A used different codes in the discourse. This could also define the adaptability

of the speakers who belong in the similar group. There are speakers who continue to use

one language, while others use different codes as a mark that they don’t want to end their

turn and add length in their use of words. Fishman (2000) stated that the factors in

language choice is group membership that should be viewed not only in a purportedly

objective in terms of physiological, sociological aspect, but also in the subjective socio-

psychological sense of membership.

 In order to reprimand the language barrier, the speaker tends to shift between the

language to provide her function in a particular speech community, which is oftentimes

the reason for the the speakers to use CW in a conversation.

In this case for example, the speakers use different codes to support their

sentences such as adding the bisaya prefix mag to the technical code shoot. Considering

that the word doesn’t have any equivalent translation in bisaya or tagalog, Speaker P

unconsciously used the word that is immediately available.

K: Unsay naa sa Sunday?

P: Mag-shoot lagi.
E: Hahahaha
R: Wala pa gud ta nag meeting ana. Diretso ta shoot didto? Wala tay pre-prod?
A: Gusto ko mag tan-aw.
P: Ang ishoot na lang didto kay ano lang ummm
G: First Time.
E: Unsa mana uy.
A: Mga paasa man mo uy.
P: Di man ako. Sige so mao lang to thank you so much sa pag adto. Aaand kato
ha. Final 21 sa morning atong atong date tapos muchat ko kung naay mga
changes.
A: Name! Name.
P: Name sa?
A: Name sa event.
P: Name sa event kay (0.5)
E: Give love on Christmas day.

Accommodate

K: Ummm regarding daw sa audiotech…dapat daw before 3:40—diba 3:40

atoang ano—by 3:00 at least nay is aka officer adto para maka-help sa
audiotech. If they needed.
N: Makatintap pa natin sila if [inaudible]
D: Okay diba pero diba wala—
K: Noted na kasi so umm parang as-as-assumed na ban a mag-punta na sila
dun. Before 3:40. Noted na kasi.
D: Pero. Pero dapat naa kay kanang at least man lang na adtuon nimo sa PPO
para mag kuan mag-remind—usahay baya kailangan nimo sila i-remind.
K: Dili sa PPO.
D: Kinsa man?
 K: Jarg sila—they are—separate yun agency ng Community Cen—community
building at ng PPO.
D: So kay kinsa man muadto para mag unsa…9 floor?th

K: Ummm maam Su.

D: 9 floor?
th

K: 9 floor.
th

N: Wait lang. Ano na lang umm. Na sure na ba na naka-book na tayo sa kanila

by tomorrow?
K: Mmm. Noted na na.

In this conversation, Speaker K shifted to a different code in using the technical

term audiotech. It could be observed that the most of the speakers use the intra-word

switching when adding the bisaya prefix mag or I in order to fill the other language. These

codes may have equivalent translation in the bisaya, but the speakers were more familiar

to the english terms and thus used these codes as part of their communication strategy.

Intraword code-switching

The researchers observed that speakers use code-switching to lengthen their turn

in speaking. The reason that speakers code switch because they are poor with the

language is not enough, thus they code switch because they have to establish a common

ground that shows that they have the same interest as other speakers, leads to the

function of accomodation.

Another function in code switching is observed as the speakers’ way of intensifying

their utterances.

Softening or strengthening of request

Excerpt 1.2:

A: Scooby Doo? Asa man nato siya ibutang? (0.3) Ano ba to sila. Uy Kerwin
mamaya na gurow kay naga meeting.
F: Gunting daw. Mag hiram daw siya. (0.5) walang gunting.
A: Sagpaon nako ka eh. Dito ka lang nga. ↑ Umupo ka. UPO.
 In the above conversation, speaker A used the bisaya expression “uy” to assert

that Kerwin should not do anything unrelated to their meeting. This is observed as a

function that can overlap with the function elimination of ambiguity.

Clarification

Speakers code-switch as a means to clarify their words upon their utterances. This

function in code switching has not been observed upon the transcription of the

researchers, but it is present in occasions such as forums or inquiries, conversation that

involve huge number of participants.

Humorous effect

Switching may also be used for a humorous effect, or to indicate that a referentially

derogatory comment is not to be taken seriously. (Saville-Troike, 2003).

Excerpt 2:

D: Gmall na lang edi o. Dapat naa na sa Gmall. 3:20 ha para makabalik dayun.
N: Huy dili 3:20! Dugay kaayo!
E:O what if daghan tao.
D: O edi mag early alas tres! Okay lang man kaha mabugnaw bugnaw gamay
N: [overlap David] Alas tres? Two thirty! (0.2) Duterte!

In the excerpt above, Speaker N code-switched from Spanish to English to

convey the joke rhyming it with the name Duterte. Oftentimes, the use of humurous

effect is widely present in the areas such as informal meetings and gatherings. Although

there are instances that formals meetings would have speakers that commit humorous

speeches to establish intimacy and eliminate dryness in the conversation.

Excerpt 3:
 G: Unsa gani tagalog sa ano?
J: Bigay
A: Handog
R: Mura siyag hotdog no. Sine hotdog hahahaha

In this conversation, Speaker G asked for the Filipino word of a word not clearly

mentioned but is understood by the participants of the conversation. The word that was

asked was hatag Speaker R rhymed handog with hotdog.

Direct quotation and repetition

Speakers use direct quotation as a means of getting an information from a

source they wanted to quoted upon. Direct quotation is often present in monologue

speech, such as inspirational talks, messages, etc. The researchers, however, haven’t

found direct quotations from the speakers of different club meetings more likely because

the meetings are more intimate and the speakers are close enough to know each

others.

Lack of translation for technical words

The speakers were actually observed as abundant with technical words

considering that the jargons they use are related to the clubs they represent. In the case

of the three clubs, they use the base form of the technical words and

Ideological statement

Excerpt 4:

A: Gusto nako ng may pocket.

B: Or kanang murag dragon dragon lang diri? Kanang dragon siya na white lang
gud.
F: Ay pangit yan pinsan. No originality.
 Speaker

Avoidance and repair strategy

Code-switching is also used as an avoidance strategy, either if certain forms are

incompletely learned in one of the languages, or if one language requires (usually

because of pronominal selection or verb inflection) a social status distinction one does

not wish to make. In some cases code-switching functions as a repair strategy, when the

speakers realize they have been using an inappropriate code.

Code can indicate whether someone is relaxed, agitated or bored. Could be that a

Speaker who code-switches wants to be accepted by the participants in a way the

speaker uses the language to assimilate with the group. To adapt to the code/s that the

other participants are using could be a way to lessen the feeling/anxiety.

It was also observed that the participants use code-switching when speaking in

numbers and dates. They usually use the English code in speaking numbers. Another

function of code-switching in Ateneo de Davao college students is for fillers.

Out of the eight functions of code-switching by Saville-Troike; we only observed

six of them in the data.