THE TYPES AND FACTORS OF CODE SWITCHING IN “ENGLISH

TIME” COURSE
Suhardianto1
Lembaga Pendidikan dan Pengembangan Profesi Indonesia
(LP3I) Jakarta, Indonesia
Suhadiantolp3i@gmail.com1

Afriana2
Universitas Putera Batam, Kepri, Indonesia
afriana@puterabatam.ac.id

ABSTRACT
In multilingual country, code switching is common in Indonesia. Code
switching is the process of switching from one language into other
language. Code switching also often appears in the English as foreign
language (EFL) classroom. In learning English as EFL, the students in
English course tend to switch their language. This research focuses on
analyzing types of code switching and factors that cause the students
to switch code by using sociolinguistic approach. The purpose of this
study is to find out the types of code switching and factors that cause
it in “English Time”. This research is a descriptive qualitative research
in which the data are taken by observation method, specifically
experimental observation, and involved conversation observation
technique. The findings of the research reveal that there are three
types of code switching occurred in “English Time”; tag-switching,
intra-sentential switching, and inter-sentential switching. Moreover,
there are eleven factors that cause the students to switch code; to
emphasize a point, easy to convey a message, habitual experience,
repetition to clarify a message, intimacy, affected with the addressee,
to continue a pronouncement, easy to convey an idea, lack of
vocabulary, to show different event, and to give explanation.

Keywords: Code Switching, Factor, Type

1. INTRODUCTION
Code Switching is the process of their language with another language
switching from one language into other in the utterance. It is common in
language. It is when a speaker moves bilingual or multilingual country, such
from one domain into another, and as Indonesia. Indonesia is a multilingual
changes their code as a result country which has a lot of languages,
(Stockwell, 2003). In other words, code including the local languages and the
switching is when someone switches national language itself. In the result of

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being a multilingual country, the language both consciously and
phenomena of code switching in unconsciously. Code switching in
Indonesia has occurred since a long “English Time” has been experienced
time ago, especially the switching from by the researcher herself. It makes the
the local language into the national researcher interest to do the research
language. However, the phenomena of about code switching in “English Time”
code switching in Indonesia have to reveal more about it.
improved. People do not only switch The phenomena of code switching
their language between Bahasa and have previously been investigated by
their local language, but they also some researchers. The title of the
switch their language into the foreign study is “Code Switching in English as
language, especially English. The Foreign Language Instruction Practiced
switching from Bahasa to by the English Lectures at Universities”
English, or vice versa, is one of the (Mujiono, Poedjosoedarmo, Subroto, &
effects from globalization. Wiratno, 2013). They revealed that
Globalization itself is a worldwide English lecturers used English,
phenomenon which leads the Indonesian, Arabic, interchangeably.
improvement in any sectors, including The English lectures made switching
language. Because it is a worldwide for linguistics factor, continue
phenomenon, people need to develop speaker’s pronouncement, addressee
their language in order to be able to specification, information clarification,
communicate with one another around intimacy, affected with the addressee,
the world. Then, English has been set unpleasant feeling, create humor,
as the international language. repetition used for clarification
Consequently, there are many people reiteration of a message, strengthen
who are able to speak English request or command, make questions,
nowadays. There are also many people give advice, balance the addressee’s
who learn English, especially in the language competence, make it easier
country where English is not as their to convey speaker’s message, and
first language. In Indonesia, English is discourse marker.
even used as the foreign language. Another study related to this
However, it is not rare to find people research is “Intra-Sentential and Inter-
speaking English in Indonesia. So, it Sentential Code Switching in Turkish-
also leads Indonesian tend to easily English Bilinguals in New York City,
switch their language between Bahasa U.S” (Koban, 2013). This study
and English. examined the patterns of intra-
Code switching is also more often sentential and inter-sentential code
found in the classroom where English is switching that are manifest in the
taught as foreign language. The speech of Turkish- English bilinguals in
researcher found the phenomena of New York City, U.S. and investigated
code switching in an English course the influence of language proficiency
“English Time”. The students who are on intra-sentential code switching. The
learning English tend to switch their study revealed that intra- sentential
language between Bahasa and English code switching occurred at a higher
in the classroom. They switch their rate than inter-sentential code

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switching and speakers dominant in switching is also defined as when a
both Turkish and English used more speaker moves from one domain into
intra- sentential code switching than another, and changes their code as a
inter- sentential code switching. result (Stockwell, 2003). It is common
Different from previous in the country that used more than one
researches, the researcher wanted to language in the daily conversation or in
do the same research with different bilingual communities. People who are
source. The previous researches able to speak more than one language
investigated about code switching used have the ability to switch or mix their
by English lectures in university of language during the communication.
Malang, and code switching used by “Code” in code switching represents all
Turkish who live in New York City. This variation characterized in language
research investigated code switching (Pardede & Kisno, 2012). Milroy and
used by the students in “English Time”. Gordon (1991) stated that code
Moreover, the researcher also wanted switching is a range of language (or
to investigate the types and the factors dialect) alternation and mixing
of code switching that used by the phenomena whether within the same
students in “English Time”. conversation, the same turn, or the
This research was important to be same sentence-utterance (Trilestari et
done because code switching was very al., 2012). Code switching is the
common in this society. Code switching process whereby bilingual or dialectal
also will not make the students speakers switch back and forth
improve in learning new language. between one language or dialect and
Moreover, people tend to switch code another within the same conversation
because they lack of vocabularies, (Trudgill, 2003). Then, Grosjean (1982)
either the speaker or the listener. By defined code switching as the shifting
analyzing more depth about code that occurs between two or more
switching used by the students in languages simultaneously or
“English Time”, especially the types interchangeably within one
and the factors, the researcher conversation (Azlan & Narasuman,
expected the reader can get 2013). So, it can be concluded that
information about what are the factors code switching is commonly used by
people switch their languages in order bilingual speakers when they switch
that they are expected to improve the their language from one to another
negative factors and they can switch whether in the same conversation,
code wisely and properly in the society. turn, or sentence-utterance.
Commonly code switching is
2. THEORITICAL REVIEW defined as “the use of more than one
2.1. Code Switching language during a single
Code Switching is the process of communicative event” (Mesthrie,
switching from one language into 2011). The choice of code itself is
another language. When bilingual communicatively meaningful, as well
speakers switch from one variety to as the actual content of what is said.
another, they do code switching Code switching is also defined as such
(Pardede & Kisno, 2012). Code speakers who shift back and forth

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between some varieties, depending on systems simultaneously (Shanna
such factors as who they are talking to, Poplack, 1980). For example, “Kamu
where they are, and what are they pasti tau I like the pink one.” The
talking about (Trask, 2007). Moreover, switching from Bahasa to English
there are three different types of code occurs in a sentence.
switching (Romaine, 1989). The last type of code switching is
called inter-sentential switching. Inter-
2.2. Types of Code Switching sentential switching is the switching
Tag-switching is the switching of occurs outside the sentence or the
either a tag phrase or a word, or both, clause level (Wei, 2000). This switching
from one language to another (Wei, involves a switch at a clause or
2000). A tag in one language is inserted sentence boundary where its clause or
into an utterance which is otherwise sentence is in different languages
entirely in other language. The (Romaine, 1989). Inter-sentential
insertion of a tag to an utterance has switching may also occur between
virtually no ramifications for the rest of speaker turns (Mujiono et al., 2013).
the sentence (Shanna Poplack, 1980). The example of inter- sentential
This is because tags have no syntactic switching is “Tugasku sudah selesai.
constraints, they can be moved freely, I’m going to sleep now.” This switching
and they can be inserted almost occurs in different sentence. In other
anywhere in a discourse without words, inter-sentential switching is
violating any grammatical rules. The when a speaker switches his language
example of tag-switching is “Bunganya from one to another in different
bagus, isn’t it?” There is a tag word in sentence or after the turn-taking with
English which is inserted into Bahasa another speaker.
sentence. In other words, tag-switching
can be defined as a switching that 2.3. Factors of Code Switching
occurs when someone inserts short The switching from one language
expressions or tag in other language to another language is common in
than the main language in the bilingual country as well as in EFL
utterance. classroom. The use of code switching
Another type of code switching is is to serve better in English immersion
called intra-sentential code switching. setting where they provide
Intra-sentential switching is the clarification when a word or phrase is
switching occurs within a sentence or a not known (Mujiono et al., 2013).
clause (Wei, 2000). It switches at the Auer (1998) stated that the factors
clause, phrase or word level if no such as extra-linguistic features like
morpho-phonological adaptation topic, setting, relationships between
occurs (Mujiono et al., 2013). It may participants, community norms and
consist of a lone content word or be values, as well as societal, political and
part of a multiword fragment (Shana ideological developments, influenced
Poplack, 2015). Intra- sentential speakers’ choice of language in
switching is the most complex type of conversation (Halim & Maros, 2014).
code switching in which the speakers Furthermore, Malik (1994)
are able to control two linguistic developed ten communicative

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functions of code switching (Azlan & (Sugiyono, 2012). Since the data in this
Narasuman, 2013). These functions research was in the form of sentence
are, then, used as a framework of that was qualitative data as well as the
motives for code switching in a need of description, so the researcher
communicative event in the used qualitative descriptive analysis.
classroom. The functions are lack of In the process of collecting data,
facility, lack of register, mood of the the researcher applied observation
speaker, to emphasize a point, (simak) method. Observation (simak)
habitual experience, semantic method is a method which is used to
significance, to show identity with a find the data by observing the use of
group, to address a different the language (Sudaryanto, 1993). This
audience, pragmatic reasons, and to research specifically applied
attract attention. experimental observation which is an
There are also the other fifteen observation that is done to the subject
more factors of code switching. They of the research in an experimental
are linguistics factor, to continue setting or the created condition (Gall,
speaker’s pronouncement, addressee Gall, & Borg, 2003). The situation was
specification, information clarification, set according to the purpose of the
intimacy, affected with the addressee, research, so that there were no other
unpleasant feeling, to create humor, factors affected the situation. In the
repetition used for clarification observation method, the technique
reiteration of a message, to used was involved conversation
strengthen request or command, to observation technique. This technique
make questions, to give advice, to means that the researcher also
balance the addressee’s language participates in the conversation while
competence, to make it easier to observing. Besides observing the
convey speaker’s message, and subjects of the research, the
discourse marker (Mujiono et al., researcher was also involved directly in
2013). the conversation.
There were six instruments used in
3. METHOD OF RESEARCH the observation; video recorder, voice
The design of this research used recorder, field notes, laptop, speaker,
qualitative descriptive analysis with and an animated short movie by Alyce
assessment and description about the Tzue entitled “Soar”. The movie was
problems in this research. This method chosen because Soar is the proud 2015
is used to describe the facts then Gold Winner of the 42nd Student
follow with analyzing those facts Oscars and Best Student Animation
(Ratna, 2009). Moreover, this method Winner at Palm Springs. Also, this was
was used because this kind of research a movie that has no dialogue in it
cannot be obtained with statistics or which was very suitable to be used in
other ways that related with this research. By doing an observation,
quantitative (measurement). The data the researcher got better
of the qualitative method is in the form understanding about the data context
of words or pictures, with the result in all social situations and the whole
that it does not emphasize on numbers comprehensive data.

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 of code switching found in “English
4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION Time”, as can be seen from the figure
From twenty-eight data that had below:
been analyzed, there were three types

Figure 4.1 The types of code switching in “English Time” .

The figure indicated that there were sentential switching because it occurred
three types of code switching that within the sentence level. Moreover, the
occurred in “English Time”. The first most Commonly used of type of code
type was tag- switching which was switching in “English Time” was the third
represented by two data. One of the type which was inter-sentential
data which showed the tag- switching switching. This type of switching was
can be seen in data (3) from student (6). represented by eighteen data. One of
The sentence was “Oh ya, take a star in the data can be seen in data (1) from
the sky.” It was a tag-switching because student (3); “Jika ada seseorang yang
the student inserted one tag Bahasa kesusahan atau gugup untuk membuat
word into the English utterance. The sesuatu, kita harus membantunya. We
second type was intra-sentential have to help them.” It was an inter-
switching which was represented by sentential switching because the
eight data. One of the data which switching occurred outside the sentence
showed the intra-sentential switching level. Inter-sentential switching in
can be seen in data (2) from student (1); “English Time” did not only occur at a
“Waktu sudah berhasil, so the tiny man sentence boundary, but also between
is joining the group.” It was an intra- the speaker turns.

Figure 4.1 The types of code switching in “English Time”

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 The figure indicated that the three emphasize a point, easy to convey a
types of code switching occurred message, intimacy, repetition to clarify
because of several factors. Tag- a message, habitual experience,
switching occurred because of the lack affected with the addressee, and to
of vocabulary and habitual experience. continue a pronouncement.
Intra-sentential switching occurred Moreover, based on the ten
because of the lack of vocabulary, to communicative functions and fifteen
show different event, to emphasize a factors of code switching that were
point, to give explanation, and easy to proposed by some experts, there were
convey an idea. Meanwhile, inter- only seven factors found in “English
sentential switching occurred because Time”, as can be seen from the figure
of easy to convey an idea, to below

Figure 4.2 The factors of code switching in “English Time”

The figure indicated that the to clarify a message, intimacy, affected

occurrence of code switching was with the addressee, and to continue a
influenced by only seven factors out of pronouncement. However, the
twenty five factors that proposed by researcher also found the other four
some experts. The factors were to factors of code switching in “English
emphasize a point, easy to convey a Time”, as can be seen from the figure
message, habitual experience, repetition below:

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Figure 4.3 The factors of code switching in “English Time”

The figure above indicated that ‘lack of register’. The reason was because
there were the other four factors of code there were four data that show the
switching found in “English Time”. The student lacked of one vocabulary in
factors were easy to convey an idea, lack theirsecond language and it affected
of vocabulary, to show different event, them to switch their language, not only
and to give explanation. The researcher mixing it, as can be seen in data (1) from
developed the factor ‘easy to convey a student (1) “So, that plane is berhasil
message’ become ‘easy to convey an gitu.”
idea’. Previously, there was just ‘easy to The factor ‘to show different event’
convey a message’ which became a was only represented by two data which
factor of code switching. Meanwhile, were intra-sentential switching, as can be
from the data that had been found and seen in data (1) from student (4) “She
analyzed in this research, it was not only want to make an airplane and dia ketemu
in the form of message that the students seorang manusia kecil.” The student
try to convey, but also their ideas, as in tends to switch his language in one
data (2) from student (4) “And they are sentence to show a different event. For
wanted to make an airplane together. example, the event in English utterance
Lantas terpikir oleh si perempuan tadi, will be different with the event in Bahasa
dan dia berfikir dia ingin membuat utterance even though it is still in one
pesawat itu untuk si manusia kecil itu.” sentence. In other words, the switching
Also, ‘easy to convey an idea’ became indicated that there was a different
the most commonly used as the factor of event occurred. Finally, ‘to give
code switching in “English Time”. explanation’ is also one of the factors of
‘Lack of vocabulary’ also became one code switching in “English Time” which
of the factors of code switching in was represented by one data, as in data
“English Time”. The researcher (3) from student (4) “I think this – I think
distinguished the factor ‘lack of the film is good because there is a − a girl
vocabulary’ from ‘lack of facility’ and yang – yang bercita-cita ingin membuat
pesawat terbang.”. This factor was done

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whenever the students wanted to give (2003). Educational Research: An
more explanation about something and it Introduction (Seventh). Boston: Allyn
was in the form of the first language. and Bacon.
Halim, N. S., & Maros, M. (2014). The
5. CONCLUSION Functions of Code-switching in
Based on the research that had been Facebook Interactions. Procedia -
done, the researcher made a conclusion Social and Behavioral Sciences, 118,
that the phenomena of code switching in 126–133.
“English Time” found and used by the https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.
students. The types of code switching in 02.017
“English Time” . referred to the types Koban, D. (2013). Intra-sentential and
that were proposed by some experts. inter- sentential code-switching in
The data was collected through Turkish- English bilinguals in New
observation to find out the types and York City, U.S. Procedia - Social and
factors of code switching in “English Behavioral Sciences, 71174–1179.
Time”. and the collected data were https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.
analyzed in depth. From the process 01.173
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(1) there were three types of code Handbook of Sociolinguistics. United
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sentential switching which was er#v=onepage&q&f=false
represented by eighteen data, and (2) Meyer, C. F. (2009). Introduction to
there were eleven factors that caused English linguistics. An Introduction to
the students to switch code − to Word Grammar. New York:
emphasize a point, easy to convey a Cambridge UniversityPress.
message, habitual experience, repetition https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511
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with the addressee, to continue a Mujiono, M., Poedjosoedarmo, S.,
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