code switching from languages

The children often use different languages, either English or local language, when different domains are concerned. This phenomenon will be discussed further in the context of code-switching to explain the factors accounting for these different code choices. Code-switching means using more than one language in conversation (Holmes & Wilson, 2017), depending on different social factors (the participants, the setting, the purpose of interaction, the topic, etc. ). Regarding the education domain, all lectures are delivered in English and all materials are written in English, which indicates that English is the high variety that the students are expected to use in the school setting. However, when talking with their friends, the students tend to switch to their local language. This is probably because they belong to the same social community and share the same local language. As a result, switching to the local variety allows them not only to express intimacy and solidarity, but also to signal and construct their similar group membership and ethnic identity, which is called emblematic codeswitching by Holmes and Wilson (2017). The children also switch to their native tongue when talking about culture. Holmes and Wilson (2017) suggested that people may switch code to discuss a particular topic regardless of the setting. In this case, the referential content related to culture might be more satisfactorily expressed in the local language; therefore, the students employ referential code-switching for more effective discussion. Moreover, when talking about culture, the students may want to cultivate a sense of pride and signal their ethnic identity. Thus, their code-switching also has the affective function alongside the referential one. Regarding the family domain, in their informal and friendly home setting, where their parents are not fluent in English, switching to their local language is reasonable since it is the code commonly used in the family and every member is most proficient in. Therefore, using local language at home seems to be the most comfortable, thus facilitating the communication among family members.