Code Switching

Art of Extraneous Languages
For so many years, the Philippines have undergone many diversions in

language. Since many foreign countries have tried to invade the country and thus for
the meantime of colonization there have been a wide influence of languages from the
Spanish to American Era. Hence until now, these languages still take a huge part in the
daily lives of Filipinos and so a lot of these people are commonly bilingual or
multilingual.
Bilingual and multilingual people sometimes switch back and forth between two
languages or between two dialects or registers of speech at a time hence it is called
code-switching. It is also synonymous with code-mixing and style-shifting. Code-
switching happens far more often in conversations than in writing and is also common in
particular countries where a native language is taught alongside an old colonial dialect.
Though in code-switching there is one dominant language and commonly it is the
vernacular language of the group however it is typically called the matrix language and
as for the additional language, it is usually called the embedded language. The matrix
language outlays the basis for the communication and assertions from the
supplementary language are embedded. However, it is important to keep in mind that
there are so many reasons for a person to code-switch. Sometimes a person switch
language to either include or exclude other people from a conversation. For example, a
person might want to tell a secret and does not want the other people overhearing it and
thus he switches the language that the people around do not understand. It can also be
the other way around like when a person might want to socialize with a group of people
and so he switches to a language that they understand. Another reason for code-
switching it that of expressive function. A person might switch language within a group
to show solidarity and express himself more. Additionally, a person also uses code-
switch when he cannot express an idea easily using only one language so he expresses
it to other language to express it more easily. One more reason for code-switching is
phatic function where speaker repeats something in both languages in order to
emphasize it. This is more common to some teachers when the students are more
fluent to a specific language that is different from the language the teacher is using
while teaching and so the teacher might adjust to a language where the students could
comprehend more easily making it easier to deliver a lesson. Furthermore, a reason for
code-switching is also for metalinguistic function which means reporting something in
the other language, or commenting on something said in the other language. Maybe a
speaker says something in the embedded language but then he explains it or add
further commentary in the matrix language. This is also common within teachers.
Finally, there is poetic function where the speaker says certain words or makes jokes in
the embedded language for amusement or for some kind of artistic purpose. This is
mostly common for the people belonging in the Gen-Z or the teenagers now since for
them code-switching can be use for fun. But code-switching is hugely unpredictable and
people often usually code-switch without any conscious choice. For example, a person
might not recall a word he needed at the given moment with the language he is
speaking so he might borrow the same word from a different language and then
continue normally with the language he started with but that is an honest mistake and it
has become common nowadays.
Code-switching is entirely common for bilingual or multilingual people and
oftentimes in most immigrant households. People use different languages in
correspondence with the degree of formality the situation calls for. In Filipino
households, they might use Tagalog language for casual conversations within the family
but might insert some English words they come up for whenever there is no available
word for the former language. People also express themselves in a language their
comfortable with to give a more reassuring sense. A common Filipino speaker might
want to express himself about an experience using English language and avoiding to
use his native language because it is closer to him and doing so might show
vulnerability and weakness since our vernacular language is closer to our roots. This is
just to show how the art of language is entirely magnificent.

Code Switching

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Art of Extraneous Languages

For so many years, the Philippines have undergone many diversions in

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