Code Switching Analysis

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CODE SWITCHING ANALYSIS OF ENRIQUE IGLESIAS´ SONG DUELE EL CORAZÓN In this research, we will analyze the reason why code switching is used in English songs sung by Spanish speakers. In order to do so, we will determine the purpose of the singer in using code switching, the effect of English and Spanish songs in bilingual communities and the social and psychological reasons for code switching. According to Poplack (2001) code switching is the mixing of two or more language in the same linguistic discourse. There are two types of code switching: intersentential and intrasentential code switching. Intersentential code switching is understood as the process where code switching occurs at phrasal, sentence or discourse level from one language …show more content…

Social reasons include: people around the speaker, a desire to fit in, a need for solidarity, conversational topic, setting of interaction, familiarity of speakers, age, sex, race, ethnic group, and linguistic background. Psychological reasons are: age of acquisition, assertion of power, to declare solidarity, to maintain neutrality when both codes are used, and express identity. Based on the chart, the following has been found: 1) The singer mainly uses intersentential code switching showing a high level of proficiency in both languages Spanish and English respectively. 2) There is no evidence of intrasentential code switching in his song. 3) The singer shows a pattern of code switching from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. 4) The singer code switches from English to Spanish once because it is a solo part when he sings in English. Iglesias code switches to Spanish in order to set the context of the song in immigrant bilingual Latino communities and for song adaptation purposes since translation will affect the rhythm. Also, he code switches in order to show the symbolic value of Spanish language as part of his identity and to declare solidarity with the bilingual and non-bilingual populations who listen to the song in Spanish speaking societies. 5) The singer code switches from Spanish to English three times in this …show more content…

There is no evidence of intrasentential code switching. Second, Iglesias has bilingual song in English and Spanish which determine his success in the music industry because his songs are appealing to American and Latin American societies primarily. Therefore, Iglesias knows that code switching is a marketing tool. This is due to the assertion of power one can get though the use of English language which is popular among Latino immigrant which makes Iglesias the best selling Latino artist. Finally, he code switches due to social and psychological reasons: socially due to the need of solidarity shown from the artist towards fans who are from American and Latino communities; and, psychologically because the singer feels the necessity to show identity and assert language power to Latino communities who are becoming a majority in the English speaking society. Hence, the need to use code switching for marketing purposes in the music