Libyan-Arabic and English code-switching on Twitter

This study attempts to investigate the patterns and functions of code-switching (CS) of Libyan-Arabic and English among six bilingual Twitter users. In comparison with other varieties of Arabic, there has not been sufficient and reliable studies conducted on this phenomenon among the speakers of this marginalized Arabic dialect, especially regarding virtual interactions that occur on social networking sites daily. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to examine how the social indexable functions of code-switching between Libyan-Arabic and English are negotiated. Additionally, it aims to explore the context in which these languages are used and discuss the motivations and topics influencing their code-switching patterns on Twitter. Furthermore, the research question was addressed by evaluating the data using Bhatt & Bolonyai's (2011) framework of code-switching constrains of FAITH, POWER, SOLIDARITY, FACE, and PERSPECTIVE proposed by the authors. Based on the collected data, the findings demonstrate the presence of all five constraints in both communities, with a higher tendency for female users from both communities to code-switch compared to males.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Teaching of English Sec Lang

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Asmaeil, Hana Abdulhalim

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bhatt, Rakesh
• Sadler, Randall

• Key Words: Code-switching (cs)
• Libyan-arabic
• English
• Twitter
• Bilingualism.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Hana Asmaeil

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121387

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121387