Attitudes towards code switching in Malta : a sociolinguistic study

Abstract

Code switching is a phenomenon encountered daily in our bilingual society. Whether on television, on radio, whilst shopping, or simply out on the streets, one is sure to meet someone who code switches. It is the object of this study to find out how people in Malta feel about code switching. The phenomenon was studied by employing three methods of data collection. This study aims at discovering the attitudes of Maltese people towards code switching and it also aims at discovering whether the respondents' residential locality, their level of education and their socio-economic group affect their positive or negative attitude towards code switching. Does a stereotype exist? Is code switching viewed negatively or positively? Do people hold strong attitudes towards this phenomenon? Is it desirable? This study asks these questions amongst others, to discover whether code switching is perceived as the mark of an elite group, or merely an indicator of lack of linguistic competence.