Xiaoyang Zhou

This study explores code-switching practices among 88 Chinese English Language Studies (ELS) students from the 2023 spring intake at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. Drawing on Malik’s ten reasons for code-switching, the study investigates students’ motivations and perceptions within a multilingual educational context. The findings indicate that “Lack of Facility” and “Lack of Register” are the most common reasons for code-switching, while factors such as “Mood of the Speaker” and “Pragmatic Reasons” play a lesser role. Students primarily code-switch when discussing complex academic content or cultural topics, viewing it as a helpful strategy for clarity and expression. This study contributes to sociolinguistics by highlighting code-switching as a tool for communication, identity negotiation, and linguistic adaptation in multilingual learning environments, and affirms the relevance of Malik’s framework in international education settings.

Code-switching; Sociolinguistics; Chinese ELS students; Students’ perceptions

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