NAME : RIVANO RISAL RATOE

ID : 321417066

CLASS : A

MEETING 9

BILINGUALISM, CODE SWITCHING, CODE MIXING, TRANSFER, AND INTERFERENCE

This topic in this essay will be discussed about Bilingualism, Code switching, Code

mixing, Transfer, and Interference in psycholinguistic. Bilingualism is the ability to use two

languages, Definitions of bilingualism range from a minimal proficiency in two languages, to an

advanced level of proficiency which allows the speaker to function and appear as a native-like

speaker of two languages. A person may be bilingual by virtue of having grown up learning and

using two languages simultaneously (simultaneous bilingualism). Or they may become bilingual

by learning a second language sometime after their first language.

In bilingualism there is a phenomenon where bilinguals mix two languages and switch

back and forth between two languages. These phenomena called Code switching and Code

mixing. Code-mixing and code-switching are widespread phenomena in bilingual communities

where speakers use their native tongue (L1) and their second language (L2) in different domains.

Fischer (1972) suggests that code switching or inter-sentential code-alternation occurs when a

bilingual speaker uses more than one language in a single utterance above the clause level to

appropriately convey his/her intents. And code mixing also called intra-sentential code switching

or intra-sentential code-alternation occurs when speakers use two or more languages below

clause level within one social situation.

 Maschler (1998) defines code mixing or a mixed code as “using two languages such that

a third, new code emerges, in which elements from the two languages are incorporated into a

structurally definable pattern” (p.125). First language (L1) acquisition can influence on the

second language (L2) performance. The existence of some errors from L1 to the L2 may appear

if we are trying to analyze it carefully. The errors are coming from the utterance itself when it is

transferred in the negative way. The possible problem here is that we sometimes find errors in

the second language learning process because the influences from the mother tongue. This

phenomenon called Transfer and Interference.

According to Brown (1990), transfer is to carry over the previous performance or

knowledge to the subsequent learning. It is said that we make two things in transferring the

language. They are positive transfer and negative transfer. Positive transfer is about carrying

over everything when it is going to be right. Otherwise, if we make negative transfer, we are

going to find something called interference and overgeneralization. Negative transfer merely

occurs as a process of interference. Krashen (2002) explained that interference is as a caused of

performer that is “falling back” on old knowledge because he or she didn’t acquire enough the

L2. It is clear that this kind of errors can occur to the learners because there is an influence on

their L1.