Code-switching Usage in Social Media: A Case Study from Oman

Abstract

Multi-linguals have observed a widespread trend of switching between two utterances in foreign language settings entitled code-switching or (CS). It has been noticed that CS usage in social networking websites has not yet been explored intensively in the higher educational institutions of the
Gulf region; the reason that attracted us to conduct this study in Oman (one of the Arab Gulf region countries). This study explores the educators and learners’ attitudes towards using CS in social networks within the higher educational context in Oman. Two questionnaire surveys were administrated with 338 students and 21 educators in the study, in addition to two interview sessions with both students and educators. Results indicated that 86.40 % of the students code-switch on social networks, whereas 81 % of the educators do so. WhatsApp is found to be the most social networking App used for code-switching by both students and educators. Furthermore, results indicated that students are highly positive in their attitudes toward the use of code-switching in social media. Additionally, the study presents other implications and future work.