General introduction
Sociolinguistcs is related with language in social and
cultural context,especially how people deal with the different social
identities like :gender,ethnicity and age low class,high class…etc.Language
is a way of communication producing utterances and expressing feelings among
human in different envirnments.Each speech community has each variety of
language and can be named as dialects, accents,or registers.Languages may change
in different situations and circumstances.Most of people do not rely on one
language when they share subjects to be more flexible in their thinking.They switch
codes and alternate between two or more languages,something related either
personality or impact of envirnment.Algeria is a complex situation,it is
considered as a diaglosic and multilingual community since different languages
are used by the Algerian population.Those languages are :Algerian
Arabic,Moderne Standard Arabic,Berber,French…and some other languages like :English
and Spanish.which makes the Sociolinguistcs situation a complex and significant
field to tackle as a topic of research.
This study deals with the phenomenon of code switching which
exsist strongly among Algerian people,but the case is Master Students’English department.The
aims of this research is to attempt to know how people deal with the alternation
between Algerian dialect and other languages,especially French consediring it
as major status in many domains,and asking students some questions related to
their attitudes towards code switching inside and outside departments.
Fundamentally,the main questions can be raised as follow :
1. Why do bilinguals (Master English Students)in particular
switch from one language to another in daily discourse ?
2. Why do students who learn foriegn language code switch
more than the other students of other colleges ?
3. What are the main effets of code switching on
learning,for students ?
The major hypotheses in our research work are :
1. Bilinguals(Master English Students)switch from one code
to another to show solidarity,prestige,and level of education.Also,according To
the formality of the situation they are involved in,and the person they are
speaking with and the topic.Then as a habit for them in communication.
2. Students get to alternate between languages during
courses,and this has led to use them in their conversations
3. For students ;code switching has positive effects on
learning.It helps learners to understand the difficult aspects of the
lessons,it also helps them in making connections to their prior knowledge,it
helps with the classroom management.
The interpretation of the results :
1-The Sample Characteristis :
The sample selected from English University Students of Sidi
Bell Abbés.Consists of participants of both sexes (Male and Female)in order to
examine their code switching and the language contact of this speech community.Their
age varies between twenty and twenty five years old,most of them from the
linguistics stream and has studied Arabic and French in their three previouse levels
while English from their year in the middle school untill the present day.
2-Type
of the Questionnaire :
In this research paper,a questionnaire has been used as a
research tool for collecting data necessary for the completion of the present investigation.The
respondents were asked to give only one answer out of a suggested series of
two,three of four choices,and at time give two answers when it is
necessaity.Also they were asked to explain for some choices and answered some
open questions.Additionally,they were asked to give their oppinions to the statement
and answer by selecting their degree of agreement or disagreement.
The questionnaire has been devided into three section.The
first section consists of the questions of sexes,age,level of study,and the
language use by the respondents in their previouse schooling and in the present
day.The second section consists of different questions about code switching we
asked questions with choices to tickthe appropriate answer,and an open
questions.The third section consists of a table contains different statement
and choices about the degree of agreement or disagreement of the respondents.
So,this type of questions recquires ticking the suitable
answer,and answer some other questions .Additionally, it was important to
explain what is meant by some difficult terms to the respondents.
3-Data Analysis :
Section one :
Question1 :Gender
(Male /Female)
The respondents were twenty students,sixteen female
representing 80% of the population and four male representing 20%.The selection
was parely random.However,it is inevitable to mention how the number of female
respondents is dominant might be useful To certain questions which requires
code switching examples.
Question 2 : ‘In
what language you have been mostly taught in your previouse schooling ?’
This question aims to figure out the language which have
been mostly taught in the previouse schooling by the Master English Students.It
is direct question and it is requires simple and true answers.
The respondents’answers are summarised in the table below
where a variety of language are presented.
|
Arabic
|
French
|
English
|
Arabic
& French
|
Arabic
& English
|
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
12
|
4
|
|
15%
|
/
|
5%
|
60%
|
20%
|
Table
1 : the Language which mostly taught in the priviouse schooling
graph
1 : the Language which mostly taught in the priviouse schooling
The above grapgh show that the majority of the students studied
in Arabic and French in their previouse schooling (60%).So, this is indicates
that students in their previouse schooling based on the Arabic language as the
official language and french as the second language in the Algerian educational
system.On the other hand,they do not based on English language in all the
previouse schooling.Most of students states that the study of English begin
from the first year of the middle school not like French which is began from
the primary school,and this is let them to base on Arabic and French and
English only did not used in a larg amount except by students loved this
language(5%). However,some other students used English and Arabic in their
previouse schooling, these students as we talk before whom loved the English
language and wanted to use it alongside Arabic and those are presented (20)of
the population.Also,the graph show that a few students based on only Arabic
language (15%)because they could not use any other language in their in
addition to the Arabic language.
Question 3 :
‘What language do you use in communicating with your classmates,teachers,staff in
your college ?’
The question aims to figure out the spoken languages with
classmates,teachers and staff in the students’college. It is direct question
and requires simple answers.In the following table will summarise the
respondents’answers about the use of languages to communicate with their
classmates,teachers and staff.
|
Arabic
|
Frensh
|
English
|
Arabic
& Frensh
|
Arabic
& English
|
Arabic
& English & frensh
|
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
|
15%
|
5%
|
20%
|
20%
|
25%
|
20%
|
Table
3 : Language use with classmates , teachers and staff in the college
Graph
3 : Language use with classmates , teachers and staff in the college
The above graph show that the Master English Students
largly use the Arabic and French in their communication with their
classmates,teachers and staff about(27%)in their college.In the other hand,many
students used in their communicating both Arabic,French and English (20%)especially
when they communicate with their freinds and classmates as a prestige for
them.Also another students communicate by only English (20%)especially with
teachers. Then only about (15)used the Arabic language in the college.In
addition to some others also used Arabic and French (15%)which is indicates
that they are bilingual people and they are raised in an intellectual family
with educated members who actually speak French at home.
Section Two :
Question 1 : «For
how long have you learned english ? »
The question above aims to know how many of years does
students have learned the English language.All the respondents here answerd that
they are learn english for « 12 years ».From the first year of the
middle school untill the present day when they are Master English.
Question 2 : «What
do you think about mixing two or more languages when you talk ? »
It is an open question and the respondents give many
different answers as for example :this alternation sometimes be a necessity
for talking,or a helpful way of communication.
Question 3 : « What
is your attitude towards code switching in a conversation ? »
This question aims to know the students’attitude toward code
switching in a conversation.So,three choices are given ti students ti select
one of them which are :Positive ,negative or neutral attitude.The
following table illustrate the respondents’answers.
|
Positive
|
Negative
|
Neutral
|
|
13
|
1
|
6
|
|
65%
|
5%
|
30%
|
Table
3 : the students attitude towards code switching in a conversation
Graph
3 : the students attitude towards code switching in a conversation
The above grave show that the majority of students have a
positive attitude towards code switching (65%).For them ,the use of code
switching can help them in their learning to undestand the difficult lessons
and to make connection with knowledge also.In the other hand,other students
have a neutral attitude (30%)whom do not rely depend on code switching either
in their learning or in their daily conversation.Then,a few students have a
negative attitude (5%).These students stated that the use of code switching
does not a successful way neither to undestand nor to communicate.
Question 4 : « What
do you think of switching or mixing languages indicates obout your
Language Proficiency ? »
This question aims to show the degree of the language
proficiency for students when they are use the code switching in their
discours.They generally think that the use of code switching or mixing
languages make their language proficiency in higher level.
|
Higher
Profiency
|
Lower
Profiency
|
|
16
|
4
|
|
80%
|
20%
|
Table
4 : The degree of language proficiency
Graph
4 : The degree of language proficiency
The results in the graph and table show that the majority
of students (80%)think that code switching indicates about their language
proficiency with a high level(high proficiency ).Then,the rest of them
(20%)think that it indicates their language with a lower proficiency.
Question 5 : « How
often do you realise that you are moving from one language to another
during a
conversation ? »
When asked the students about the realisation of moving
from one language to another,this is in a generally where conversation take
place ordinary and frequently,different answers were received from students.The
table below illustrate their answers.
|
All
time
|
Sometimes
|
Seldom
|
Never
|
|
11
|
7
|
2
|
0
|
|
55%
|
35%
|
10%
|
/
|
Table
5 : The realisation of moving from one language to another during a
conversation
Graph
5 : The realisation of moving from one language to another during a
conversation
The above grave show that the majority of students
(55%)realise all the time that they are moving from one language to another
because they see that it is a habit for them.On the other hand,other students
(35%)sometimes realise when moving between languages. Then,just a few students
(10%)whom do not realise when they moving between languages in conversation.
Question 6 : « Compared
to using one language,does it takea longer time to think when
moving between
languages ? »
This question aims to know if the students take a longer
time to think when they move between languages.The result mention that the
respondents the mastery of languages spoken in daily conversation uncover that
the majority of students does not tale any time to think.The results mention in
the following table.
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
2
|
18
|
|
10%
|
90%
|
Table
6 : The time taken for thinking when moving between languages
Graph
6 : The time taken for thinking when moving between languages
According results shows in the table and graphs,the
majority of students (80%)do not take a longer time to think when moving
between languages.They see that this is a habit for them.So,they do not take
any time to think.The rest of them(20%)take time to think before moving to
another language since they do not well speak the other languages.
Question 7 ,Question 8,and Question
9 :
They are an open questions and direct which require
simple answers.The question 7 :is about is that the code switching between
languages a habit, all the respondents say ‘yes’ .The question 8 :is about
the reasons of code switching, and the respondents give many different
reasons.The question 9 :is about is that the code switching considered as
a prestigious way of communication,then the majority of the respondents say
‘yes’ .
Question 10 : « Do
you prefer to use other languages( French or English) instead Algerian
Arabic in your department ? »
This question aims to show the students’preference for
using other languages (French or English )instead Algerian Arabic in their
department.Generally,all the students prefer to use other languages as a
prestigious way of communication especially between each other.The following
table mention the result.
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
20
|
0
|
|
100%
|
/
|
Table
10 : The students' preference for using others languages ( Frensh or English )
instead Algerian Arabic in the department
Graph
10 : The students' preference for using others languages ( Frensh or English )
instead Algerian Arabic in the department
The results show that all the respondents (100%)say
‘yes.They prefer to use other languages (either French or English)and their
justification that they are as an English Students,they should use English in
their speech in the department.Then,about all languages,they use them to show
prestige,level of eduaction,and their lack of exact words, i.e ;to find an
équivalent ideas and finally according to the context and the situation they
are in(department)
Section Three :
In the section three,de give to the respondents a table
contains of different statement and ask them to answer them with best describes
of their degree of agreement or disagreement ticking the appropriate choice for
them.We use the abbreviations for help.
The following abbreviations are used :
AG : Agree.
SA :Strongly Agree.
DA :Disagree.
SD :Strongly disagree.
There are seven statement in table.and the respondents
choice their degree of agreement or disagreement.We show that the most chosen
answer is Agree and Strongly Agree for different statement.Then disagree
choosen from some respondents,and just a few respondents chose strongly disagree.
|
N°
|
Them Description
|
AG
|
SA
|
DA
|
SD
|
|
1
|
The alternation between Arab-Frensh oo English
can help me to develop my language ability
|
8
40%
|
9
45%
|
3
15%
|
0
/
|
|
2
|
Learning courses in different languages can help
to develop the knowledge more
|
8
40%
|
9
45%
|
3
15%
|
0
/
|
|
3
|
Learning the courses only in one lnguage is
beneficial for me
|
8
40%
|
4
20%
|
6
30%
|
2
10%
|
|
4
|
Learning courses in Arabic and Frensh or English
makes it easy for me to understand
|
10
50%
|
7
35%
|
3
15%
|
0
/
|
|
5
|
Learning the courses in Arabic and Frensh or
English increase my chances of passing the exams
|
6
30%
|
6
30%
|
8
40%
|
0
/
|
|
6
|
Mixing of arabic and Frensh , English strengthens
my language
|
9
45%
|
6
30%
|
4
20%
|
1
5%
|
|
7
|
I prefer the course to be taught in both Arabic ,
Frensh and English
|
7
35%
|
4
20%
|
6
30%
|
3
15%
|
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