The practice and primary function of code-switching among selected interviews of Philippines rational politicians

Abstract

In political discourses like debate, speeches and hearings, these need a clear communicative relay. Language have also been influenced in terms of their usage and practices. Code-Switching, the alternate use of more than one language in a discourse, is one of the language phenomena where such changes can be traced. This research investigated the occurrences of code-switching in selected previously recorded interviews of the Philippines National Politicians by taking approach in examining the various types, functions and reasons of codeswitching. The data consisted of previously recorded interviews of five (5) currently running politicians. Data was then analyzed based on the integration of Poplack’s (2013) Types of Code- Switching, Appel and Muysken’s (2006) Six Function of Code-Switching, and Malik’s (1994) Ten Reasons for Code-Switching. Findings suggested that code-switching occurs in interviews of politicians mainly to serve referential, expressive and phatic functions. For more substantial results in the future, researchers may consider large numbers of participants to observe the occurrences of code-switching in interviews.