Significance of Hausa-English Code Switching

The research reported in this paper focuses on the social meanings of Hausa-English code switching within the interaction of Hausa bilinguals studying at University Utara Malaysia. Data for the survey were collected through questionnaires disseminated to 80 bilinguals, who completed them. The facts were analyzed within the outline of Gumperz’s (1982) conversational functions of code switching and Malik’s (1994) reasons and functions of code switching. Thus, the conceptual framework entails eight specific functions of code switching, namely: quotations, reiteration, objectivization, lack of facilities, addressee specification, identity sharing, interjections and clarification. Nevertheless, the outcomes of the survey established that alternating between two or more language varieties is a communicative strategy employ by bilinguals to effectively share interactive meanings during conversation.