A Case Study of Code-Switching among Thai Waiters in a Cambridge, UK Restaurant

Bibliographic Data

ID14822941
AuthorsNicola Prin (Instructor of Global Business Communication, Department of Arts, International College, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand, [email protected] and [email protected], corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume24
Issue1
Pages106-125
Publication date2021-06-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueManusya Journal of Humanities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0859-9920 • E-ISSN: 2665-9077
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1163/26659077-02401004
OpenAlexW3176622726
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited13

This study explores Thai bilingual speakers’ code-switching in a formal work setting. Although code-switching may appear to be random, there is an underlying choice which speakers decide upon when switching between languages: Language proficiency, the initial speaker’s language choice, the setting, and role relationships all contribute to these choices. This study investigates the factors contributing to code-switch decisions by participants within their specific work environment. The main findings show that adopting one language over the other depends on two main factors: first, the initial sequence of the interaction; second, the role relationship that the participants wish to maintain. This study has drawn upon the conversational approach and Auer’s sequential analysis to collect and interpret data from ethno-graphic observations, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews

Code-switching · Language proficiency · Linguistics · Mathematics education · Neuroscience of multilingualism · Programming language · Computer Science · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Engineering · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Multilingual Education and Policy · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access