Yuni Kartika Harnum

200512503003
English Literature B
LANGUAGE CHOICE
Language is one of the most important factors in human life, by using
language they can convey their opinions and questions clearly. In
this era of globalization, the spread of language is easier to do,
people can learn the variety of languages that exist so that the
speaker can easily determining which language they want to use.
The language choice is also one of the most important factors for
speakers, they usually using the local language when they are in
their city or village.
In sociolinguistics, language choice describes a society which communicate with more than a single word.
In these bilingual societies, speakers usually can decide which language to use according they are
speaking with, the setting of the dialogue, and the function of the dialogue. For example, in these
communities, people may find it more suitable to talk to the elder or have an important conversation
with their family in their first language. Or if the speaker relaxes in a social occasion (such as party)
then the speaker may speaks casual language. Multilingual speakers may also experience code
switching (code is use for different languages), where the speaker will switch between two languages
in a conversation.
According to Bentahila (1983), language choice may be influenced by
factors related to individual speakers, certain languages and their
associations, or aspects of the social situation. It seems that certain
choices can be influenced by a number of variables, perhaps from
different weights.
language choice is commonly used and found in life especially in bilingual
and multilingual community. Therefore language choices are usually
influenced by social status, culture, age and ethnicity.
For example, in Indonesia, people usually use their own local language and
they also usually use Indonesian as the national language, some people
even speak English, for instance, Buginese is being able to speak
Bugis (as their mother tongue), also able to speak Indonesia as L2
some even speak English as L3.
A native speaker of Arabian, for instance, might prefer to use their
language wherever possible, but if he should himself in an
environment where there are no other Arabian speakers in a foreign
country, for example, they would choose to use their scond or third
language.
THANK YOU