Code Switching in the Private Universities of Bangladesh

Abstract

Code switching has become a common phenomenon as our exposure to the English language in our discourses has been increased nowadays. People mix Bangla and English, and sometimes Hindi, together in a conversation in Bangladesh. There are a number of factors which are responsible for the occurrence of this phenomenon. Now-a-days, a variety of speaking styles are seen among those young people, which involve mixing of Bangla, English and Hindi. They are used to switch their code in their academic as well as domestic lives. This paper, in particular, examines the reasons behind code switching by the students as well as their attitudes towards the phenomenon in their academic lives. The data has been collected through a survey questionnaire where fifty students participated. Also, an interview has been taken with fifteen students to obtain their opinions more deeply. The data collected for this study reveals different factors underlying their practice of switching code as well as their different attitudes towards this common linguistical phenomenon of present day.