Bisaya-English Dynamics in Online Communication: An Investigation of Code-Switching among Bisdak Content Creators

Abstract

Social media has changed the way people use and share language. Online spaces unite people from different backgrounds, creating a diverse language environment. This study comprehensively analyzed the code-switching types and functions employed by Bisdak (Bisayang Dako) content creators within interview segments shared on the Facebook platform. It also examined the underlying reasons and motivations behind the use of these patterns. The research employed a qualitative research approach, specifically content analysis. The content analysis offered a nuanced lens to interpret how code-switching operates within this digital realm, enabling a comprehensive exploration of language practices embedded in online discourse. The findings reveal that the most prevalent form of code-switching observed was intrasentential, manifesting in 20 instances, closely followed by intersentential code-switching. On the other end of the spectrum, tag-switching surfaced as the least frequent code-switching type, registering a single occurrence in the analyzed dataset. Concerning the functions of code-switching manifested in the spoken discourse, there are four referential, eighteen expressive, two phatic, one poetic, six metalinguistic, and no occurrence for directive code-switching. The underlying reasons behind the use of code-switching are the following: to express cultural affiliation, to emphasize specific points, to signal or establish status, to express emotions, and to create a sense of intimacy. The findings stress the importance of sociolinguistic considerations in fully grasping the tapestry of code-switching's functionality. This research adds a pivotal layer of understanding to the evolving dynamics of language practices in the digital age.