Code Switching in a Multilingual Society: A Case Study of Bilingual Students

Abstract

Students living in Medan are quite varied. They come from various parts, especially from outside the province of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Bahasa Indonesia is the only communication tool that is used, if there is a conversation among them. Therefore, the influence of Bahasa Indonesia is very possible for transferring code from the first language (B1) Minangkabau to the second language (B2) Bahasa Indonesia.This article presents several aspects concerning the use of code switching among Minangkabau– Indonesian bilingual students in Medan. This study uses qualitative descriptive method. Data are collected by recording conversations of 30 minutes per day, for 10 days, at several locations in USU. Using Malik’s framework (1994), the factors influencing code switching in communication are analysed. The code switching data are conversations among Minangkabau-Indonesia bilingual students who migrated to Medan. They are fluent in Minangkabau language, and they are members of Imam Bonjol Student Association (IMIB) in USU.