LANGUAGE CHOICE IN MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES

 In a multilingual community, the multilingual speaker needs to make the right language choice which principally depends on the domain of usage and the linguistic repertoire of speech participants. This paper investigates factors that govern language choices that multilingual speakers make in Larteh, a multilingual community. The study is informed by insights from the Markedness Model, developed by Myers-Scotton (1993, 1998). Larteh is a non-reciprocal bilingual community, where the people speak Leteh2 and Akuapem Twi (Johnson, 1973, p. i). English is the third language for those who have had formal education. In this paper, three domains of language use are examined: education, tradition, and religion. Data from an interview survey on language use and participant observations are employed. The paper notes that due to changes in various spheres of life in Larteh, current language use patterns in the community differ from what pertained about three decades ago (Johnson, 1973, 1975). Subsequently, factors that determine language choice are gradually undergoing some modification.

In multilingual communities, more than one language is used. It means that people living in this situation may speak more than one language. When interacting with others, they can choose a code or a variety which is appropriate with participants, topic and location. According Holmes, the linguistic forms chosen by a speaker is influenced by social context in which he is talking. It matters who he is talking to (participants), where he is talking (setting), what he is talking about (topic), and why he is talking (function of interaction). As a result, the same message may be expressed differently to different people.

CODE CHOICES

Code Switching

The term code switching (or code-switching) refers to the alternation between two or more languages, dialects, or language registers in the course of discourse between people who have more than one language in common. Typically one of the two languages is dominant; the major language is often called the matrix language, while the minor language is the embedded language.

There are many different types of English code switch inserted in daily communications amongst Indonesians. They range from the interaction in a formal speech through to an informal chat. In a written format, the English code switch can be found anywhere from short messages (SMS) through to a newspaper or magazine articles. If I have a look through the social media, for example, some of the words written as ‘status’ or ‘news feed’ on Twitter or Facebook are in English. Street protesters use English words and phrases because they short and do not require a large space to write their messages, and more importantly, their messages can be understood worldwide because they are written in English – as an international language.

Code Mixing

Code mixing also called intra-sentential code switching or intra-sentential code-alternation occurs when speakers use two or more languages below clause level within one social situation.

The code we choose to use on a particular occasion is likely to indicate how we wish to be viewed by others. If we can comfortably control a number of codes, then we would seem to have an advantage over those who lack such control. Speaking several of the languages can obviously be distinctly advantageous in a multilingual gathering. Code-switching may be a very useful social skil. The converse of this, of course is that we will be judged by the code we choose to employ on a particular occasion.

Some form of mixed code,

1. insertion of the word, for example, "Ok. Kalian ujian minggu depan."

2. Insertion of phrase, for example, " Ini namanya reading skill.

3. insertion of word repetition, for example, "ada banyak souvenir-souvenir dari Cina"

4. insertion of idioms, for example, "makanya jadi orang itu don't judge book by the cover"

5. insertion shape baster (native and foreign joint formation). for example, "saya menunggu transferan uang dari orang tua saya.

DIGLOSSIA

Diglossia: In a bilingual community, in which two languages or dialects are used differently according to different social situations. Janet Holmes defines diglossia as having three crucial features:

1. In the same language, used in the same community, there are two distinct varieties. One is regarded as high (H) and the other low (L).

2. Each is used for distinct functions.

3. No one uses the high (H) in everyday conversation. In the following example it is easy to tell which variety you will use given the social situations: Telling a joke Interviewing, for a job Giving a speech for a charity event, Giving a speech for a friend for his/her birthday, Church and Cafeteria.

CODE - SWITCHING AND CODE - MIXING

Living in a bilingual (or multilingual) community forces people to be able to speak in at least two different languages. I will take Javanese as a case in point. Javanese people can speak Javanese, their mother tongue, and Indonesian as their secondary or national language at a minimum. It is possible to find them speaking foreign languages too. As people have to speak different languages (or follow different speech levels; i.e. ngoko or krama in Javanese language) for different reasons, the so-called linguistic phenomena of code switching (you call it "alih kode" in Indonesian) and code mixing (campur kode) will inevitably occur.

Most speakers command several varieties of language they speak. People are usually required to select a particular code whenever they choose to speak, and they may also decide to switch from one code to another or to mix codes.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CODE SWITCHING AND CODE MIXING

The difference between code switching and code mixing. When you change language intentionally and you do it because of specific purposes (e.g. the presence of third person that does not share the same language, or the change of topic or situation), in other word the switch is functional, that means you code-switch. When you insert a piece of word other than that of your language, and you have no specific purpose or intention when doing that, that means you code-mix.

sources: https://www.slideshare.net/AyuRetnoAditya/sociolinguistics-chapter-two-language-choice-in-multilingual-communities

DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2016.040707

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ljh.v25i1.3