Code-switching among Bilingual Cairene University Students about Personal Relations: A Sociolinguistic Approach

The present study attempts to examine the phenomenon of code-switching among bilingual university students concerning personal relationships. The primary objective of the study is to examine the reasons underlying the phenomenon of code-switching when discussing personal relationships, as well as identify the most prevalent words or expressions employed during code-switching. The study adopts Malik (1994) reasons for code-switching. The data for this study was gathered through the distribution of a questionnaire to a sample of 77 bilingual university students. The research findings indicate that students feel more comfortable discussing personal relationships in English than Arabic. The study also identifies the reasons behind code-switching in this context and highlights the most frequently used words or expressions during code-switching. This study contributes to the understanding of code-switching among bilingual university students, specifically in the context of personal relationships. The findings provide insights into the reasons behind code-switching and the common linguistic elements employed in this phenomenon.