




































Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

58 

 

TYPES OF CODES SWITCHING IN EFL CLASSROOM 
 

Rio Giovani Eyato  
riovanieyato@gmail.com 

Tadris Bahasa Inggris, Fakultas Ilmu Tarbiyah dan Keguruan 
           IAIN Sultan Amai Gorontalo 

 
 

         ABSTRACT 
 

The purpose of this study is describing the types of code switching spoken by teacher and students in 

teaching process. The research problem is what the types of code switching in the classroom are. The 

researcher uses descriptive qualitative approach as method for analyzing the data. The researcher 

collects the data by recording and writing on Table observation what teacher and students said in 

teaching-learning process, then collected it and classified. From the data analysis, the type of code 

switching which mostly was used by the teacher and the student during learning process was 

metaphorical code switching and situational code switching.  

 

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengambarkan bentuk-bentuk alih kode yang digunakan oleh guru 

dan siswa dalam proses pembelajaran bahasa Inggris. Rumusan masalah dalam penelitian ini adalah 

apa tipe-tipe alih kode yang digunakan di dalam kelas. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian 

kualitatif dan mengumpulkan data melalui observasi dan dokumentasi, berupa rekaman percakapan 

guru dan siswa di kelas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada dua tipe alih kode yang paling 

sering digunakan oleh guru dan siswa di kelas yaitu alih kode metaforik dan alih kode situasional.  

 

Keywords:  Teacher, Code Switching 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

59 

 

A. Introduction 
 

Code switching is a phenomenon in using language to communicate, where a speaker 

changes one language to another in the same utterance or conversation. Code switching is 

mostly happened in bilingual or multilingual society. Grosjean, 1982 and Hamers and 

Blanc, 1989 defined that bilingual or multilingual is a person whose linguistic ability in 

two or more language is similar to that of a native speaker. 

Because of the globalization era and technology information development, it is 

difficult to escape to not use two or more language in the same conversation, such as 

utterance in social media, daily conversation, and also in the classroom. The influence of 

English as international language is very strong in contributing code switching using 

especially in nowadays society. 

English has been studied in Indonesia as a subject in school since many decades. It is 

studied as foreign language, therefore there is a term Teaching English as Foreign 

Language (TEFL). Because it is a foreign language, then generally it finds the teacher and 

also the students use code switching when they interact each other in teaching and 

learning process. Mostly, it is used for clarifying the code which convey in English where 

the students do not understand the meaning. 

Crystal (dalam Skiba, 1997) stated that code switching using is influenced by some 

factors: the speaker cannot say the code or the sentences in his/her language, so he/she 

turn to another code. The speaker wants to emphasize the meaning he/she wants to 

convey, to state his/her solidarity, and also to express his/her feeling to the listener. 

Referring to the using of code switching in the classroom, the teacher mostly use it 

because of the listener (the students) cannot understand the teacher utterance when he/she 

convey in English. For example, the classroom where I teach, even though I tried too 

much to speak English from the most beginning of the teaching process, but code 

switching is still happened because I have to accommodate the students’ who have no 

capability to understand English well. Therefore, it is interesting to observe how the 

teacher uses code switching in the classroom.  

 

 

 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

60 

 

B. Literature Review 

Code Switching 

Code Switching is a phenomenon of language shift that occurs among people who 

have more than one language. According to Appel argue that “code switching is a 

phenomenon transition because the changing situations of language usage”. Haugen’s 

added “code switching is overlapping of two language” Different from Appel statement 

say code switching that occured between language, then Hymes said that “The Code 

Switching not only occur between language but also occur between varieties or styles 

contained in a common language”.
 
Hymes said more details that “code switching has 

become a common term for alternate us of two or more language, varieties of language, 

or even speech
 
styles”. Then Gal say’s “Code Switching is a conversational strategy used 

to establish, cross or destroy group boundaries; to create, evoke or change
 
interpersonal 

relations with their obligations.” While Hudson defines “Code switching as the speaker’s 

use of different verities of the same language at
. 
 According to Appel, Hymes,Gal and 

Hudson can get the point that code switching not only used when the changing social 

situation but code switching already become a speech style.
 

Another opinion from Mayers, he said that “code switching occurs when bilingual 

or multilingual individual switches from one language to another. The term is used when 

identifying alternations of linguistic verities within the same conversation”. Grosjean also 

argue that “code switching can be a communicative resource because it reveals the 

speaker’s sensitivity to both formal function aspects of language”. While Bokamba say 

that “Code Switching is the mixing word, phrases and sentences from two distinct 

grammatical system across sentence boundaries within the same speech” Alvarez say that 

“Code switching is an alternation of languages that occurs during bilingual conversation 

in which participants have at least one language in common
. 
Based on statement above I 

conclude that code switching is a communicative resources that expresses sensitivities 

speaker by using two language or more. 

 

 

 

 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

61 

 

The Type of Code Switching 

Bloom and Gumperz identified two type of code switching; Situational Code 

Switching and Methaporical Code switching. 

 Situational code switching depends on a situation. In situational code switching, 

one language is used in social situation, and the other language is used in another social 

situation. Then Gumperz and Bloom said that “situational code switching, where 

alternation between varieties redefines a situation, being a change in governing norms. 

Talking about redefine situation Wardaugh adds the explanation redefine the situation 

formal to informal, official to personal, serious to humorous, and politeness to solidarity.” 

Not only redefine situation but also Wardaugh adds that situational code switching occurs 

when the languages used change according to the situational in which the conversant find 

themselves. 

Metaporical code switching, the switching occurs in the same situation with the 

same individuals. Bloom and Gumperz state that “Metaphorical switching allows one 

speaker to share two or more different with the same interlocutor. 

The other definition from Bloom and Gumperz’s about situational code switching 

and metaphorical code switching quoted from an article, namely: Situational Code 

Switching in a multilingual society arise because of the lexical requirements, this occurs 

when a person wants to express something that exists only meaning in a particular 

language or dissatisfaction someone in the use of language when expressing one or more 

words. Code-switching also occurs due to follow the situation in the issues discussed 

topic changes, or also be intentional weeks to create a secret code so that other people do 

not understand the contents of the conversation. The code switching also influenced by 

age, social status, educational background and gender. 

Metaphorical Code Switching is the code switching within a single situation but 

added significance for a number of components as a rule to be expressed and has a specific 

purpose. The transfer of a change to involve the option of introducing 

themselves(identification) to the listener in certain situations. Multilingual community in 

bilingual, switching metaphors-code refers to the tendency to switch codes (language or 

language variety) in a conversation to discuss topics that would typically fall into another 

domain. Where conversation alternates between varieties change the situation, be the change 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

62 

 

in the set of norms, and switching metaphorically, where alternative enrich a situation, 

allowing for more than a metaphor for social relations in the situation. Metaphorical 

switching referred to change in the speaker’s language choice when the situational remained 

the same. For some people switch in this case was thought to convey special communicative 

intent. 

The Factor of code switching 

If you search the factor of code switching, then we must retrun to the subject of 

sociolinguistic. Fishman said that “who speak what language to whom and when”. In 

Chaer’s book Fishman said more details that is “ Who speak , what language, to whom, 

when, and what the purpose”. In the published literature of linguistic, in general the factor 

of code switching was mentioned as follows : 

a. The Speaker 

A speaker often do over the code to gain an advantage or benefit of actions 

it.Example, Mr. A after a while talking to Mr. B on the proposal promotion had just found 

out that Mr. B was derived from the same area with him and also have the same mother 

tongue. So, with the intention that his business quickly sorted him to switch the code from 

Indonesian into a local language. Suppose Mr. B took the bait to use local languages, it 

can be expected to be a smooth affair. But if Mr. B was not moved and continue to use the 

Indonesian language, the official language for work, then the matter may be not smooth, 

because of the similarity of the speech community who wants his conditioned did not 

work, which causes a lack of a sense of familiarity. In real life we often encounter a lot of 

government offices were deliberately using local languages with officials he met to 

benefit from the sense of the similarity of the speech community. A sense of familiarity 

with the local language is more easily forged than using Indonesian. Rather code to gain 

an advantage in typically done by speakers in the event said it expects assistance 

opponent he said. 

b. The listener 

Listener can cause code switching, for example, the speaker wants to compensate 

for the ability to speak the opponents said it. In this case the ability to speak the 

opponent's usually said less or some what less because it may not first language, if the 

opponents said the background of the same language as the speaker, then the code 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

63 

 

switching that occurs only in the form of transitional variant. If the opponents said 

speaking backgrounds were not the same as the speakers, then there is over the language. 

For example, Ani Prmuniaga a souvenir shop, a foreign tourist arrival of guests, which 

invites conversation in Indonesian. When then the tourists seem to run out of words to 

continue to speaking Indonesian, then Ani quickly switch the code to converse in English, 

so that then the conversation becomes smooth again. 

c. Change in the situation since the third person 

The presence of a third person or another person who is nota background of the 

same language with the language being used by speakers and opponents said could cause 

code switching. 

d. Formal to Informal 

Changes in the situation may cause code switching. As illustrated below some 

students were sitting up front classrooms while chatting in a relaxed language. Suddenly 

came a lecturer and intervened, so now it’s the students by using the code switch 

Indonesian formal variety. When the course starts so the situation becomes formal,but by 

the time the course ended the situation becomes more formal. So that the transfer of the 

code of Indonesian formal variety to variety of Indonesian relaxed. 

e. Change the Topic 

Changing the topic can also cause code switching. When teacher changes the topic, he 

needs a good way or using mother language to make it clear. Thus, they will use other 

language or their mother language to avoid misunderstanding of their students. 

C. Research Method 

The method use in this research is descriptive qualitative. The subjects was English 

Department students in Third semester at Tarbiyah and Teacher Training Faculty IAIN Sultan 

Amai Gorontalo. This research collected the data on the types of code switching by used the 

field notes observations and recording then analyzed by selecting and sorting out which types 

of code switching and were used in the classroom. 

D. Findings and Discussions 

The data is displayed on the table above shown that code switching is happened in 

classroom mostly metaphorical and situational code switching. Metaphorical code 

switching, the switching occurs in the same situation with the same individuals. Bloom 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

64 

 

and Gumperz state that “Metaphorical switching allows one speaker to share two or more 

different with the same interlocutor. The code switching within a single situation but 

added significance for a number of components as a rule to be expressed and has a 

specific purpose. The transfer of a change to involve the option of introducing themselves 

(identification) to the listener in certain situations. Multilingual community in bilingual, 

switching metaphors-code refers to the tendency to switch codes (language or language 

variety) in a conversation to discuss topics that would typically fall into another domain. 

Where conversation alternates between varieties change the situation, be the change in the 

set of norms, and switching metaphorically, where alternative enrich a situation, allowing 

for more than a metaphor for social relations in the situation. Metaphorical switching 

referred to change in the speaker’s language choice when the situational remained the 

same. 

In this research metaphorical switching, the teacher used in the same situation with the 

same individuals and to convey special communicative 

T : aslm alaikum wr wb  

S : Wslm wr.wb 

T   : Good Morning 

S    : Morning 

T   : How are you today? 

S   : I’m Fine 

T : Ok good. Jadi kita kemarin sudah membahas tentang Idiom tapi belum terlalu 

mendalam. So, for today we will disccus about idiom. Jadi hari ini kita akan belajar 

tentang idiom. 

T : nah buat adik-adik saya mau bertanya what’s the meaning idiom according to you? 

Please raise your hand! Yang tau raise your hand. 

In the conversation  the teacher first is using Indonesian Language talk with student 

but when teacher asked the student, teacher switches the code to English and then Switches to 

Indonesian to make stronger the instruction. 

S1  : Idiom is sentense to show our expresion and the meaning is keep from the other atau 

bisa kita katakan bahasa arti yang tersembunyi. 

T : Any else? 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

65 

 

 S2: Nothing. 

In the Conversation, the student explained about idiom using English and then using 

Indonesian to make clear his explanation, so in conversation, the student switches his code to 

convey special meaning. 

T: jadi jawaban dari teman kalian itu benar ya! Idiom is a collection of some of the word 

phrases or sentenses for spesial meaning or definition some word are made. Jadi 

maksudnya 

idiom adalah sekumpulan dari kata, kalimatatau yang membentuk makna khusus 

Atau defenisi dari kata-kata yang dibuat. 

In the Conversation (4), the teacher switches from Indonesian to English to make the 

student understood. 

T : Misalnya, for example Long Face. S3 : bu bacaannya 

longpace? 

T: salah. Jadi bacaanya itu long face ya. Whats the meaning long? 

S: Panjang. [Long] 

T: and then face? What’s the meaning face? 

S : Wajah 

T : Ok, Good. So, artinya adalah? 

S : Wajah yang Panjang. 

T : wajah panjang. Itu menurut kalian. But the real meaning of long face in idiom is 

Sedih. Jadi ini artinya bukan panjang wajah yaitu adalah sedih. Ini maksud dari idiom itu 

sendiri. Idiom itu kumpulan dari kata-kata yang membentuk makna tersendiri. Nah kalau 

how to say in English sedih? Sedih? 

S : Sad. 

In the conversation, conversation begin with Indonesian language then the teacher 

switches to English language, every time the teacher convey the core topic teacher switches 

the code. 

E. Conclusions 

Based on the result of this research, the type of code switching happened in the 

classroom is metaphorical code switching. From the data analysis, the type of code 

switching which mostly was used by the teacher and the student during learning process 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

66 

 

was metaphorical code switching. The teacher and the student always switched their code 

to convey communicative in special intent. 



Journal al-Lisan 
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 
Volume 3 Nomor 2 - Agustus 2018 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 
 
 

67 

 

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