The Functionality of Code Switching in Charismatic Churches: A Case Study

The Functionality of Code Switching in Charismatic Churches: A Case Study of City Church International, Durban

Authors: Lungile Mkhwanazi, Bongephiwe-Dlamini Myeni (University of Zululand, South Africa)
Speaker: Bongephiwe-Dlamini Myeni
Topic: Language, Community, Ethnicity
The (SCOPUS / ISI) GLOCAL AFALA 2023 General Session

Abstract

IQOQA
Ukugqama kobuliminingi kubonakala lapho kunokushintshana kokusebenza kwezilimi ezahlukene. Ukushintshashintsha kafushane kusho ukushintsha ulimi olulodwa kuya kolunye. Ulimi luyingxenye esemqoka empilweni yomuntu ngoba kuyindlela axhumana ngayo nabanye. Lokhu umcwaningi ubekubona uma ethamele izinkonzo ezahlukene. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuphenya ukusebenza kwezilimi ezahlukene kanye nokuhlaziya isizathu noma imbangela yokuzisebenzisa ebandleni/sontweni. Lolu cwaningo kusebenzisa indlela echazayo(descriptive) ukufeza izinhloso zocwaningo, ulwazi luqoqwe kusetshenziswa indlela yokubuza imibuzo amalunga ebandla ayi-15 asezikhundleni ezahlukene kanye nendlela yokubuka. Ulwazi luhlaziywe kusetshenziswa indlela ye- critical discourse analysis (CDA). Lolu cwaningo lwenganywe injulalwazi ye zizathu zokuxuba izilimi eyasungulwa uHoffman 1991, ibheka izinhlobo zokuxuba izilimi (code switching) kanye nezizathu zokuthi kungani abakhulumayo beyisebenzisa. Ucwaningo luthole ukuthi isizathu esinqala sokuxuba izilimi ukwenza wonke umuntu ayiqonde into ekhulunywayo nokuzizwa amukelelile.

The pursuit of multilingualism culminates in effective code switching. Code switching simply means changing from one language to another. Language is an important aspect of people’s lives since it is a means through which they communicate with others. The impetus to conduct this study emanates from the observation that there is a prevalence of code-switching in charismatic churches. This was observed during different church sermons that the researchers attended. The aim of this study is to explore the use of code-switching and its function in charismatic churches. In this descriptive qualitative study, data was gather through in-depth interviews with 15 church members drawn the various leadership structures, and observation. Data was analysed using critical discourse analysis (CDA). The study is framed around the theory of reasons of switching investigated by Hoffman (1991). which functioned to categorize the types of code switching and explain the reason why the speakers do code switching. Based on the findings, it became apparent that speakers switch because they want to accommodate everyone.

Keywords: Nasarawa, Friday, Sermon, Malam, LanguageLanguage, Multilingualism, Code Switching/mixing, Church and Communication/ Amagama asemqoka: Ulimi, Ubuliminingi, ukushintshashintsha izilimi. Isonto kanye nokuxhumana.