A case study of code-switching in Malta : what patterns of code-switching can be identified in the informal interaction of Maltese bilinguals

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the patterns of code-switching amongst three Maltese bilinguals with a view to finding out whether speakers’ language dominance plays a role in the amount as well as types of code-switching which occur. The data analysed consists of a recording from a local radio programme “The Morning VIBE” which runs on VibeFM. The data were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show that language dominance does play a role in the type of code-switching that occurs, although the amount of code-switching doesn’t seem to differ much as a function of language dominance. Inter-sentential code-switching was highest in the English Dominant speaker, followed by the Balanced Bilingual speaker and then the Maltese Dominant speaker. Interestingly, however the amount of intra-sentential code-switching is roughly equal for all three speakers. Despite this the three speakers exhibit interesting differences in their intra-sentential code switching.