Bilingual Texting in the Digital Age: Arabic–English Code-Switching in SMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1703.03Keywords:
Arabic–English code-switching, text messages, computer-mediated communication, bilingualism, biculturalismAbstract
This study examines how people who speak both Arabic and English mix the two languages when they send text messages in urban Jordan. This study investigates various forms of code-switching, the motivations for it, its frequency, and its impact on societal language use. It uses a pretend set of 3,000 text messages from 150 people aged 16 to 40 who speak both languages. The five main categories being studied are lexical borrowing, textisms, tag switching, intra-sentential switching, and inter-sentential switching. Along with examples and charts, the study uses basic statistics to show that switching languages within a sentence is the most popular way of mixing languages. This suggests that young Arabs are proficient at speaking two languages and are comfortable using digital tools. The results show how people adjust their language and negotiate their identities when interacting online. They also show that English is being used more often in everyday Arabic conversations. This paper emphasizes the need to conduct more research using real data and helps us better understand bilingual digital skills in the Arab world.
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