CODE MIXING AND CODE SWITCHING

6^th Group

CODE MIXING AND CODE SWITCHING

I.       INTRODUCTION

Code mixing and code switching are a lingual phenomenon which frequently happens in society, such as in bilingual, multilingual and monolingual society. It insufficiently gets attention at peopled circle that insufficiently notices or less centralized in lingual or culture. But, for a lingual researcher or a culture phenomenon researcher it will be an interesting topic to be discussed. Therefore, we are going to write a paper which can explain the phenomenon above which can be understood by all society, not only for the researchers themselves. In this era, almost multilingualism society is so difficult to avoid code mixing or code switching. But, in using code mixing and code switching, we have to understand how to use or when we use those codes so are not happening misunderstanding and confusing in understanding language.

II.    DISCUSSION

A. Definition of Code, Code Mixing and Code Switching

1.      Code

In everyday interaction, people usually choose different codes in different situation. They may choose a particular code or variety because it makes them easier to discuss a particular topic, regardless where they are speaking. When talking about work or school at home, for instance, they may use the language that is related to those fields rather than the language used in daily language communication at home.

A code is a system that is used by people to communicate with each other. When people want to talk each other, they have to choose a particular code to express their feeling. According to Stockwell (2002:8-9), a code is “a symbol of nationalism that is used by people to speak or communicate in a particular language, or dialect, or register, or accent, or style on different occasions and for different purposes.”

From this opinion of the code given by many linguists above, the writer can make conclusion that a code can be said as a language. The code is a form of the language variation that is used by a society to make communication with other people.[1]

2.       Code Mixing

Code-mixing is the change of one language to another within the same utterance or in the same oral/written text. It is a common phenomenon in societies in which two or more languages are used, usually without a change oftopic.

Some researcher such as Thelander (1976: 103) explains the definition of code mixing. He says that if in the single utterance the clauses and the phrases used are hybrid clause or hybrid phrases and each clause or phrase does not support the function of clause and phrase, it is called code mixing. The special character of code mixing is that, code mixing is used in informal situation. In the formal situation it may have no exact meaning in Indonesian language. In the written language code mixing is indicated by italic writing or underline form (Nababan, 1984: 32).[2]

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).[3] 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.

3.       Code Switching

Sometimes, people consider that code switching and code mixing have the same meaning. But actually both of them are different. People in the bilingualism or multilingualism situation often change language or variety of languages. This situation depends on situation or the need for communication such as when a person uses a standard language when he meets his guest. When he knows that, actually, the guest is his old friend, the person switches his standard language into informal language or at first someone uses Indonesian language, and then he/she switches into Javanese. This phenomenon is called code switching.

Komarudin (1989: 59) says that code switching occurs in level of clauses and sentences. Code switching is general characteristics in bilingualism. Bilingual people often switch codes from one language to other language when they speak or write.

Code switching is switching situation from one code to another (Suwito, 1985: 68). Code switching not only occurs in the form of language change but also may happen in the change of the variant of language. Hymes (in Chaer 1995: 142) says that code switching has become a common term for alternate us of two or more languages, varieties of language or even speech style.[4]

           

B.     Kinds of Code Mixing and Code Switching

1.      Code Mixing

Based on the language or variant elements inserted in other language, code mixing can be classified into two kinds.

1.      Inner code mixing

That is originated from the native language with its all variations, for instance Jawa Ngoko mixed with Jawa Krama- Inggil, wah baksone pun telas mas, pados liyane mawon. In this sentence, the speaker mixes jawa ngoko, liyane, with jawa karma inggil, pun, telas, mawon.

2.      Outer code mixing

That mixes a foreign language with native language such as English language mixed with Indonesian language. Saya sedang tidak bias berpikir, otakku blank. In this sentence, the speaker mixes English language, blank, with Indonesian language saya, sedang, tidak, bisa, berpikir, otakku.[5] 

3.      Code Switching

Based on the scope of switching where languages take place, Soewito (2004:114) divides code switching into two kinds, internal code switching and external code switching. Each type will be describing bellow:

a.       Internal code switching

If the code-switching occurs among regional languages in one national language, or among dialects in one regional language, or among some styles in one dialect.

b.      External code switching

If code-switching occurs among native language and foreign language.[6]

Equating in this instance code with language, we can describe two kinds of code switching: situational and metaphorical. Situational code switching occurs when the languages used change according to the situations in which the conversant find themselves: they speak one language in one situation and another in a different one. No topic change is involved. When a change of topics requires a change in the language used we have metaphorical code switching.[7]

C.    Causes of Code Mixing and Code Switching

            There are many kinds of causes in code mixing and code switching. Grosjean (1982) suggests some reasons for code-switching. For example, some bilinguals mix two languages when they cannot find proper words or expressions or when there is no appropriate translation for the language being used. Also, their interlocutors, situations, messages, attitudes, and emotions generate code-mixing.

            Grosjean (1982), code-switching can also be used for many other reasons, such as quoting what someone has said (and there by emphasizing one’s group identity), specifying the addressee (switching to the usual language of a particular person in a group will show that one is addressing that person), qualifying that has been said, or talking about past events.[8]

            From explanation above, there are a number of reasons for bilingual or multilingual person to switch or mix their languages. Those are:

1.      Talking about a particular topic

People sometimes prefer to talk about a particular topic in one language rather than in another. Sometimes, a speaker feels free and more comfortable to express his/her emotional feelings in a language that is not his/her everyday language.

2.      Expressing group identity

Code switching and code mixing can also be used to express group identity. The way of communication of academic people in their disciplinary groupings, are obviously different from the other groups. In other words, the way of communication of one community is different from the people who are out of the community.

3.      For prestige (to soften or strengthen request or command)

For Indonesian people, mixing and switching Indonesian into English can also function as a request because English is not their native tongue, so it does not sound as direct as Indonesian. However, code mixing and code switching can also strengthen a command since the speaker can feel more powerful than the listener because he can use a language that everybody cannot.

4.      To exclude other people when a comment is intended for only a limited audience

Sometimes people want to communicate only to certain people or community they belong to. To avoid the other community or interference objected to their communication by people, they may try to exclude those people by using the language that no everybody knows.[9]

5.      Rival in speaking

Rival in speaking is also causes how often they code mixing and code switching.

6.      Time and place in speaking

The formal place is fewer for using code mixing and code switching because the speaker have prepared the material to be discussed.[10]

D.    Examples of Code Mixing and Code Switching

Example 1

Surat ini berisi permintaan borongan untuk memperbaiki kantor sebelah. Saya sudah kenal dia. Orangnya baik, banyak relasi, dan tidak banyak mencari untung. Lha saiki yen usahane pengin maju kudu wani ngono.

(…… Sekarang jika usahanya ingin maju harus berani bertindak demikian)[11]

Example 2

Vinod  : mai to kuhungaa ki yah one of the best novels of the year is.

 (saya akan mengatakan bahwa ini adalah satu novel terbaik tahun ini)

            Mira     : That’s right. It is decidedly one of the best novel of the year.

                        (benar. Diputuskan novel itu memang novel terbaik tahun ini).[12]

Example3

P: I was surprised when I heard you speak Bahasa Indonesia just now. I think you are the right person for the interview. Mudah-mudahan tidak terlalu lama. Bisa kita mulai sekarang?

R: Well, boleh. Apa yang ingin (baca: inggin) Ibu tanyakan?

P: Pertama-tama saya ingin tahu a few details, nama, usia, alamat pekerjaan,…untuk kelengkapan data responden saya.

R: Nama lengkap saya James Andrew Moloch, saya berasal dari Australia, saya tinggal di Jalan Kiputih(baca: keyputi), menyewa rumah(baca: ruma) saya di sana. Saya di sini sudah hamper dua tahun.

P: Your age? Occupation?

R: Oh, saya lahirt ahun tujuhdua(baca: tujudwa). Saya bekerja di sebuah  (baca:sebwa) perusahaan multimedia. Sebelumnya saya bekerja di anak perusahaan TELKOM sebagai consultant. Lima bulan saya sudah bekerja di perusahaan yang sekarangi ni. Saya  mengerjakan  design  animasi.[13]

III.    CONCLUSION

From explanation above, we can conclude that in everyday interaction, people usually choose different codes in different situation. They may choose a particular code or variety because it makes them easier to discuss a particular topic, regardless where they are speaking. Code given by many linguists above, the writer can make conclusion that a code can be said as a language. The code is a form of the language variation that is used by a society to make communication with other people. We have to understand how to use or when we use those codes, code mixing and code switching, so are not happening misunderstanding and confusing in understanding language.

REFERENCES

Chaer, Abdul, LeoniAgustina. 2004. Sosiolinguistik: PerkenalanAwal. Jakarta: PT. AsdiMahasyata

Wardhaugh, Ronald. 1986. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Great Britain: Page Bros

Admin. 2011. My Courses: Code Mixing and Code Switching. (Online). (http://my-uad-courses.blogspot.com/2011/04/code-mixing-and-code-switching.html, accessed on March 14^th, 2013)

Azedes, Chalish. 2012. English Literature Center: Code Switching and Code Mixing-Sociolinguistics Study. (Online).(http://englishliteraturecenter.blogspot.com/2012/06/code-switching-and-code-mixing.html, accessed on March14^th, 2013)

Cakrawati, Dias Astuti. 2011. Analysis of Code Switching and Code Mixing in the Teenlit Canting Cantiq by DyanNuranindya. (online). (http://eprints.undip.ac.id/27046/2/ANALYSIS_OF_CODE_SWITCHING_AND_CODE_MIXING_IN_THE_TEENLIT_CANTING_CANTIQ_BY_DYAN_NURANINDYA.pdf, accessed on March 14th, 2013)

Liu, Ping. 2006. Code-switching and Code-mixing. (Online). (http://www.grin.com/en/e-book/92496/code-switching-and-code-mixing, accessed on March 14^th, 2013)

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[1]http://eprints.undip.ac.id

[2]http://my-uad-courses.blogspot.com/2011/04/code-mixing-and-code-switching.html

[3]http://www.grin.com/en/e-book/92496/code-switching-and-code-mixing

[4]http://my-uad-courses.blogspot.com/2011/04/code-mixing-and-code-switching.html

[5]http://my-uad-courses.blogspot.com/2011/04/code-mixing-and-code-switching.html

[6]Chaer, Abdul, LeoniAgustina, Sosiolinguistik ‘PerkenalanAwal, page: 114

[7]Wardhaugh, Ronald, An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, page: 102-103

[8]http://originalresearch.blog.uns.ac.id

[9](http://eprints.undip.ac.id/27046/2/

[10] http://originalresearch.blog.uns.ac.id

[11]Chaer, Abdul, LeoniAgustina, Sosiolinguistik ‘PerkenalanAwal, page: 110

[12]Chaer, Abdul, LeoniAgustina, Sosiolinguistik ‘PerkenalanAwal, page: 116

[13]http://originalresearch.blog.uns.ac.id