Code-Switching between Lasi and Urdu amongTeachers at Secondary Level High School in Bela

Abstract

Code-switching is a natural and inevitable linguistic phenomenon of bilingual or multilingual classrooms in Pakistan. The term code-switching is broadly used and discussed in linguistics. Code-switching allows people switch from one language to another. Teachers switch codes in language classroom at different situations for various reasons. The study aims to investigate the reasons of code-switching between Urdu and Lasiby high school teachers in Bela. Code-Switching is a most beneficial process in a way of teaching and learning. Teachers switch between codes in classroom for different reasons. The main objective of this small study is to find out the reasons and the purposes of code-switching by teachers in the secondary level classroom in Bela. Different types of Code-Switchinghave been used by teachers, like Inter-sentential, Intra-sentential, Tag-switching and Intra word. This research applies qualitative and descriptive research designs. The data of this study have been collected through observation and recording teacher’s lectures to find out Code-Switching between Lasi (L1) and Urdu (L2). Markedness model of Myers Scotten (2002) has been used to analyse use and an effective role of code switching in a classroom setting. The results reveal that teachers use above mentioned types of codeswitching in classroom as they believe that it works better to learn/acquire things in a classroom. Students learn more in L1 than L2. It is also found that the medium of classroom lecture is Urdu, however, students perform well in L1. The finds reveal that teachers switch from Lasi to Urdu for the ease of students. However, they teach in both codes so they may learn in both.