Code switching among students in English department at Bejaia university

Abstract

Code-switching is a phenomenon of great interest among sociolinguists. This research work deals with the students of English department at Bejaia university". It intends to know whether first year English students alternate between codes, it also seeks about the languages of this code alternation. Besides, the study aims at finding out the reasons behind this code switching. Thus, the following investigation was based on the hypotheses claiming that 1st year students of English at Bejaia university code switch using Kabyle, Arabic, French and English for many reasons such as "psychological states"; "lack of vocabulary"; "showing elegance"; "in order to fill the gaps"; "solidarity and power"; "exclude/ include someone to the conversation" and "educational level" . To reach the aim of this study, the researchers picked out the mixed methods including both qualitative and quantitative measurements through a questionnaire and audio-recordings. A questionnaire was administered to fifty students of English at Bejaia University. Moreover, audio-recordings performed by six EFL students from first year in order to strengthen the results obtained. The analysis and interpretation of the results seem to support the hypotheses that first year English students at Bejaia university switch between codes and the languages of this code-switching are: Kabyle; Arabic; French and English. "Fill in the gap" is the main reason that pushes them to alternate between codes in order to communicate freely. This makes this phenomenon an inevitable way in students daily conversations. Furthermore, "showing elegance" and "educational level" is one of the important reasons behind this phenomenon. Besides, CS plays, therefore, an important role in assuring continuousness to communicate fluently and to express easily when they face difficulties in speaking only one language.