“So, what’s this cerita all about?” Functions of Indonesian-English code switching in a novel

Abstract

This qualitative research intends to examine the functions of code switching of Indonesian to English employed in an Indonesian novel, Antalogi Rasa (The Anthology of Taste). The code switching identified in the novel was categorized, analyzed and described accordingly. The function of code-switching is coded based on experts in the field provided in the literature. The findings of the research revealed that the three most used functions are talking about a particular topic, interjection and quotation. Since the novel presents the main character to be a fluent speaker in both Indonesian and English, therefore to converse with her friends and family who may not be as fluent as her in the foreign language would need these three functions most to have her utterances clearly understood by her interlocutors. Meanwhile, the three least used functions are expressing group identity, repetition and excluding other people. Likewise, the group identity of the characters is narrated throughout the story so it is not indispensable for her to point it out too much in the novel. Then, the function of excluding other people from conversations also appeared least because most of the conversations in the novel only involved two people. Hence, the form of language being investigated is the written form in a novel, therefore, the writer does try to be sparing with its length, and this also affects her choices of code switching in this fictional work. Moreover, the paper further discusses the description for each of these functions in the novel.