Attitudes towards code-switching on Maltese television

Abstract

Code-switching is a linguistic phenomenon that has firmly ingrained itself into our bilingual society. It is now likely that every single person has at least some codeswitching tendencies, and so to explore the different attitudes that one might have towards this is of great importance. This study specifically looks at attitudes towards code-switching on Maltese television. Given that speech on television is received more critically, it is important to understand the effect of code-switching on the medium. This study tries to discover this very notion through interviews with both television producers and their viewership, allowing for a close analysis of both sides of the television screen. Is code-switching on television a positive or a negative? Would code-switching on television be a hindrance, or is it a tool to allow further ease in understanding? Should authorities even allow a person to code-switch on television, and what of its impact on influenceable audience members and the conservation of the Maltese language? This study asks these questions amongst others, to investigate how these code-switching attitudes have developed throughout the years.