VIETNAMESE ENGLISH CODE-SWITCHING AS A COMMUNICATION DEVICE AT WORKPLACES

Abstract

Code-switching, the alternate use of more than one language in a discourse, has been explored in many diverse fields such as sociolinguistics, anthropology, psycholinguistics and even in language teaching and learning. This study mainly focuses on code-switching between Vietnamese and English as a communication device in conversations at workplaces. The study was conducted by means of observations, interviews, recordings and questionnaires on 200 participants from 20 companies, offices and workplaces in Hue, Da Nang citi and Quang Nam province. The functions of code-switching
that triggered speaker’s use of English in communication process was descriptively explained. Research shows how CS operates and what impact it has on conversational processes. It is concluded that speakers use code-switching as a valuable linguistic strategy to achieve certain communicative goals. The study is hoped to contribute a small part to the field of sociolinguistics, especially to the field of code-switching.