Analysis on Code-Switching in Pinoy Songs

Abstract

Code-switching in songs is one of the recent techniques used by songwriters in bilingual and multilingual countries which has been proven to achieve commercial success within the market of popular music. The study which examined the types, functions, and pedagogical implications of code-switching in songs, utilized mixed methods in research and homogeneous purposive sampling in generating 15 select Filipino popular songs for content analysis. This study revealed the types of code-switching in songs which are classified into three groups which are the word structure, sentence structure, and song structure. The type of code-switching according to word structure is intra-word switching. According to sentence structure, the types of code-switching are inter-sentential switching, intra-sentential switching, and tag-switching. Moreover, according to song structure, the types of code-switching are intra-sectional switching and inter-sectional switching.  Evidently, the seven functions of code-switching identified by Bloom and Gumperz are revealed in the study. It is, therefore, recommended that using code-switching in crafting songs may be taught to students. Furthermore, future research may be done for a more in-depth investigation of code-switching in songs. Language research teachers and linguistic scholars may use this study as a reference in studying the code-witching phenomenon in the languages and songs in their respective countries. A monograph on code-switching in songs may also be constructed.