Code-switching and its social implication: A study on verbal communication styles among students and kyai in Gading Pesantren Malang

ABSTRACT

This study was started from the observation of the writer toward the communication styles among students and kyai in Miftahul Huda Pesantren. Such communication styles are generally different from those of kyai and students in modem pesantren. They intended to choose Kromo (polite) Javanese rather than the others. Even often the code switched to was polite Javanese. They frequently switched their code in many different occasions. The patterns of code-switching varied in accordance with the purpose of communication and certain situations. The codes used varied starting from Indonesian to Javanese with its various speech levels and from Javanese to Indonesian. In this case, social status was not dominant in determining one of Javanese speech levels. However, the code choice was still related to the social status. Further, the code-switching occurred implied social messages.

Based on the illustration above and in order that this study was able to be conducted systematically, the research problems were then formulized as follows: (1) what were the codes mostly used by the students and kyai?, (2) what was the pattern of code-switching among them?, (3) what were the factors that governed code choice and triggered code-switching on a particular occasion?, and (4) what was the social implication of code choice and code-switching among them?.

The method used in this research was descriptive qualitative. The study was conducted very carefully to find out the reasons why people especially kyai, teachers, and students chose certain code in a particular occasion. Because the method used in this research was descriptive qualitative, so the emic approach was also utilized by the researcher to listen to the explanation rather than ask questions. However the writer also asked questions to confirm what they had conveyed.

Based on the study, it was found that the language mostly used by the students and kyai were polite Javanese and Indonesian. Javanese is a language belongs to the majority, while Indonesian is national language which was often used to neutralize code choice during verbal communication. Code choice and code-switching among students and kyai occurred naturally, there was no force or intimidation in choosing certain code. Based on the time limit they used, code-switching happened both tentatively and permanently, while if it is based on the various language they used, code-switching occurred both internally and externally. All happened based on the purpose of communication and the social consideration within social interaction.

As conclusion, it can be stated that not only was code choice based on the social status distinction, but it was also based on certain purposes, such as educational purposes. The social status might influence the choice of certain Javanese speech level but it would not imply social discrimination among them but it functioned as communication requirement in educational field. The students were trained to respect each other in accordance with their social status. They were also trained to be always polite and humble to other persons