Code-switching is a common social linguistic phenomenon
Code-switching is a common social linguistic phenomenon that can be observed when bilinguals are conveying messages. Multiple factors contribute to the frequency of the occurrence of code-switching. Common instigators of code-switching within an observable space like social media are the attempt to bring out clarity in a sentence and cause humor. Although such cues are, in some cases, unconsciously incorporated into the sentences, it has become common to deliberately switch between two languages with an audience that is familiar with both languages. Code-switching is a result of social, cultural, and linguistic dynamics. With the ever-shifting nature of social situations, appropriate adjustments usually have to be done to fit a particular audience. A social media website like Twitter can be a formidable space for studying the variations of the uses of code-switching. Twitter users utilize the platform to share their thoughts, chat with their circle, and share unique content with their circle through the Retweet function. As such the switching from one language to another in a sentence can be useful in expressing an opinion clearly in a few words owing to the fact how one Tweet (A Twitter update) restricts the post to 280 characters. Code-switching is a phenomenal tool in identifying a culture since different generations with the same cultural, and linguistic backgrounds experience the two languages differently. The younger generation usually tends to propagate the heritage and linguistics of the community. Newer terms gain popularity among its users and are likely to get ingrained into the linguistic fabric. Some words are also more popular than others hence incorporating a popular name to a sentence (or tweet) r the remarks are likely to be relatable to a broader audience. This means that communication styles that were prominent in the 90s either got incorporated into mainstream dialect or its usage being practiced by a group of people from the same generation.
It is basically impossible to completely root off a practice like code practice, which is in itself a critical element to the promotion of the growth of a heritage whose people share a language. Code-switching as an interlocutor when a bilingual person is trying to conceptualize the ideas from both languages to ease their understanding of their commonalities. A region like Kuwait, whose official language is Arabic, has had English as a secondary language for a long time. However, the impact of globalization has radically imposed new linguistic patterns. All the various groups of bilingual people based on their cultural backgrounds exude different models in the usage of code-switching. However, people who share the same background are likely to exude similar patterns in switching languages.
The adoption of a framework that has been made up of intricate findings on the patterns of codeswitching. Such frameworks are expected to predict the particular situations in which a speaker has the highest likelihood to switch from a language to another in the same sentence. Elements relating to the semantics and phonology in a sentence also adversely promote the communication of two people who do not share a language, if they share some sort of historical heritage from several decades or centuries before. New lexicon in a language takes time to go mainstream. At the same time, code-switching relies on the altering of syllables or phonology of day-to-day utterances in a way that makes sense to a group of people who share the two languages. As the grip of the users of the language increases, and they continue having conversations around everyday stuff, some new words inadvertently have to be conceived. Poplack described this phenomenon as the conjunction of concatenated fragments of alternating languages, each of which is grammatically in the language of its provenance. His framework continues to explain how the boundary between adjacent fragments occurs between two constituents that are ordered in the same way in both languages, ensuring the linear coherence of sentence structure without omitting or duplicating lexical content. Poplack’s theory reiterates on the idea of how alternating between two languages leverages on the free morpheme constraint present in dialogues between words.
We shall analyze the circumstances in which free morpheme constraint expediates the growth of code-switching between Arabic and English by sampling tweets by Kuwaitis. The case study will aim at decoding the kinds of code-switching in the sample tweets. The tweets will be devoid of the names of the people behind the account we derive the samples from. The sampled tweets aim to cover all the aspects of language-switching.
The tweet below indicates a situation where the bilingual Kuwait citizen who has Arabic and English as her two languages. Most sentences require to utilize one language to put across a point. This not only indicates diligence in the uniqueness of every language but also provides the ground for the development of the language which happens after a group of people have been exposed to a language for an extended enough period that the people own the language and hence have the rights to make any morphological changes. الأشياء الحلوة دايماً ما تستمر مثل النوم لازم احد يصحيك
- The below tweet indicates the combination of the official Arabic language, the less formal colloquial version of the language, and English. This case suggests an English television network, which is preferred in the country where the country’s cultural background is Arabic. Other deductions that can be made referring to this tweet is the rate at which the English language has become acquitted among the Kuwaitis.
Best show begins in five minutes @ro’ya tv # تشويش واضح
يا كبيييييييرررر و لله لنكيّف
- The third sampled tweet reflects the Metaphorical code-switching, in which a speaker has to switch the language to imply a proper noun. Facebook and Twitter stand out as companies which are referred to their generic English name even in countries where they predominantly communicate in other languages (Dulm, O 2007) This sample is also a perfect indicator of the matric language, which is the primary language in which the embedded (less dominant language) gets nested.
اتفه منه لله ما خلق بالواقع. …twitter و facebook و ask عميق حكيم راكز و اسطورة في
- My brother is such a weirdo, oh my god I love him hahaha
Compared to this users’ other tweets where she tweets in Arabic, her usage of English is attributed to the suitability of the platform. Accommodation theory suggests that some messages can be ideal on social platforms, but it would be challenging to pass the same message when speaking.
- Ya kathr ġaltati bi elkitabah moshkilati ma arajeʕ tweetati wa ashoof ana dagatt alħareff alsaħ walla la
Translation: I make so many mistakes when I write my tweets, my problem is that I do not check them and see if I press the correct letter or not.
In this instance, ‘tweets’ is a proper noun and carries more weight when stated in its original language. ‘Tweetati’ is still tweet and the suffix is added to foster the assimilation of the morphological structure of the embedded language
- hada alhashtag alturki ʕn ġaza alɁn trend ʕla alʕlem shariku feeh bi al’luġah alengilizia lylaft intibah alʕlem le ġaza
Translation: This Turkish Hash tag is about Gaza, now is a trending over the world, please participate in English Language to attract the attention if the world toward Gaza
Multiple references of code-switching can be deduced, such as using proper nouns to expand the audience base
- yakoon ħawlahum jaw taʕees wa kaɁeb musalsalat taʕeesah broodkastat tanaqul axbar sayɁah aw ishaʕat drameeyah
Translation: I have noticed that some of the depressed people who had bad mood are surrounded by an atmosphere which includes bad dramatic series, some terrible broadcasts of bad news.
This example reveals how an English word can undergo morphological transformation to assimilate into the carrier language.
- Wa badɁ alskajwel hago ya’tʕbaa mudabit wadoʕo min qabel ma yatlaʕ
Translation: His schedule started to be filled up, it seems that he prepared himself before the show.
The usage of ‘alskajwel’ is common amongst Arabic- English bilinguals. This depicts the extent of the entrenchment of some words that have entirely taken root in their matrix language.
- Min zaman ma nzalt shey mithl kiḏa. bil weekend aħib akhetḏ shower ġer ʕnn baqi alayam atwal shiway’ah lɁan ʕadatan akoon mustʕjillah
Translation: it has been a long time since the last time i posted something like this: at the weekend. I like to take a longer shower than other days because I am always in a hurry.
The casual usage of the word ‘weekend’ and ‘shower’ indicates how phenomenal the concept of code-switching is and shows how people are ready to discard their traditional communication patterns if newer design promises more flexibility and freedom.
- Edgady select we extari alṤowar we yatlaʕ zer alhefd. aw feh sahem ʕla elyasar taħat edġadeh we yetlaʕ save aw delete
Translation: press select and choose the photos then you will get the button of saving or on the left
The above tweet showcases how some languages have dominated every subject and how some terms can only make sense when something is referred through its native language. ‘Save’ ‘Select’ and ‘delete’ are, for instance, words most associated with computing. A bilingual person who is also computer savvy is likely to relate more to other computer geeks if he utilizes the standard dialect among their peers. This, therefore, means that cultural and social choices heavily influence the language dictum of a person or group tends to adopt. It is also worth noting that the patterns of such usages can be predictable as most contexts tend to be reused every other day.
Conclusion
The infiltration of the English language has challenged the radical culture in which an ancient country like Kuwait has been based upon. Before the 20th century, all manner of schooling was undertaken in Arabic from kindergarten to University. Religious studies are predominantly Islamic, and the Quran is written in Arabic. However, with the globalization that seems to attract people to other foreign cultures, A country like Kuwait has slowly morphed to accommodate an international community within its borders. The dilution of the predominant Arabic culture has traversed, and such a time calls for the scrutiny of values and practices that are worth keeping and discarding those that impede the growth and versatility of a country like Kuwait. Kuwait ranks high in terms of civilization and has top international learning institutions like Light Schools, whose curriculum is English-based. Therefore measures have to be taken to preserve the heritage of the Middle Eastern country while accommodating changes fostered by globalization. Code-switching enhances the cognitive abilities of the beholder as our research has proved increased capabilities in creative thinking with code switchers. The result of this practice of switching between Arabic and English has had multiple sociocultural effects, including the decline of the imposition of radical rules mostly associated with Islamic culture. Rules including those that force women to be housekeepers and restriction of their dressing to specified styles have also been overridden by most of the modern Kuwaitians, and a lot can be traced to the infiltration of foreign cultures. Situations such as this where global changes have to occur in an unprecedented manner and therefore call for the adaptation to such phenomena. Such as the government systems are widely similar due to the international relations they all share, the interconnectedness of the world can only propel to the diversification of cultural experiences for people in the major cities and smaller towns as well but to a relatively lesser degree.