Code-switching in F. A. Thuketana's selected novels

Abstract

Most bilingual and multilingual people switch from one language to another during conversations, but writers rarely switch codes when they write. Code-switching has predominantly, among the Vatsonga, been studied in the education sector, particularly in the teaching and learning continuum, and not in literary texts. This study explored the use and impact of code-switching in prosaic literary texts - the novel. The prevailing attitude on the encroachment of one language upon the other especially, in literary texts, raises eyebrows since the texts in question are generally regarded as vehicles for cultural transmission. The practice, therefore, has implications in literary texts written in the medium of Xitsonga. The question is: why do they code-switch? The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate the use of Code-switching in F.A Thuketana’s 3 novels. The study investigates the reasons behind the use of the code-switching technique by characters in the selected literary texts. The study adopted the qualitative research methodology and exploratory design to explore the use of Code-switching in the selected novels. The sample of the study is composed of three novels by F.A. Thuketana, which were selected from the population of Xitsonga novels. They were selected because they display the use of Code-switching in portraying characterisation. The researcher used purposive sampling to select the texts for the study, which includes the following Xitsonga novels by F.A Thuketani: N’waningingi ma ka tindleve (1978), Ndzi ngo tinciki! (1987), and A hi fambe M’ghaname (2011), which are some of the Xitsonga novels in which Code-switching is used. This is a desk-top research; therefore, data was collected from the selected novels. The researcher applied syntactic, semantic and pragmatic analysis to analyse data. The study is essential as it informs readers about the impact of code-switching in literary texts, helping them appreciate it as an effective communication and language development tool. The study serve as a springboard for future researchers on Code-switching and helps people learn each other’s languages.