Campus talk : analysing the choice of language and code-switching in the casual speech of Maltese university students

Abstract

This small-scale quantitative study is aimed at presenting an overview of the linguistic traits of Maltese undergraduate university students. It seeks to examine the linguistic choices they make, determine the reasons behind such choices and their attitudes to the use of language by fellow students. Particular attention will be given to the Maltese and English languages as well as the phenomenon of code switching. The first part of this study provides a useful theoretical background and approaches that this study will consider. Subsequently, a brief historical background of language in Malta is presented in order to give a clear picture of what led to certain attitudes that were present in the past, and which might still be felt to this day.