CODE-MIXING AND CODE-SWITCHING PRACTICE AMONG UiTM UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS IN FACE-TO-FACE AND WHATSAPP GROUP APPLICATION

Abstract

Abstract

Code mixing and code switching in the recent years has become one of the main communication tools, and is considered as a way of conversing. These practices nowadays are not only found in verbal communication, but also in written communication such as newspapers, advertisements, memos and so on. In the rapid development of technologies, code-mixing and code-switching can also be found in Computer-mediated Communication (CMC). The most utilised CMC to date includes the used of WhatsApp group application. The present study was conducted in order to investigate the undergraduate students’ preferences on code-mixing and code-switching as well as to explore on the main factor that leads them to code-mix and code-switch in both interactions in face-to-face and WhatsApp group application. This study is also aimed to identify the most common style of code-mixing that is being practiced by the undergraduate students in face-to-face and WhatsApp group application. This study was conducted on a total of 80 students; 40 students from the Faculty of Education (TESL) and 40 students from Academy of Language Studies (ALS).  The results found that students from both faculties do code-mix and code-switch, in which explaining on difficult words and sentences became the main factor that leads them to code-mix and code-switch. Besides, insertion of words and phrases was mostly used by the students while code-mixing. This study is hoped to benefit students, especially the undergraduates to be aware of these language phenomena as these practice may affect their self-development skills. More studies on code-mixing and code-switching in terms of CMC should be conducted for recommendations.

Keywords: Code-mixing and code-switching, CMC, Face-to-face, WhatsApp group application