What Did U Say?: Code Mixing & Code Switching

Couple of days ago, I met my junior at campus. They asked me about code mixing & code switching. Those theories belong to sociolinguistic class which I took for couple of semesters ago. It is really creepy why they are asking me since I am not a linguistic student who discusses language comprehensively. Nevertheless, as a person who would like to drown on linguistic sea in the next level of education (read: master), I have to explain that coding theory. Well, basically code mixing and code switching are clear enough. Even, it is pretty easier from the “name” that they are called.

Code Mixing

Okay, first let’s dissect what code mixing is. Just like its name “mix”. it means that there would be two things that put together and blend it as a whole unit. Clearly, the speakers fuse two codes during speaking.

For example: 

"Basically, saya tidak memiliki warna favorit, sejauh itu cool and match, kenapa tidak?"

That sentence above, two codes (bahasa Indonesia and English) are fused together. See how that’s work??^^. Basically, in code mixing term, there is a dominant code and minority code. In the case above, bahasa Indonesia as dominant code, and English as minority code. Now, the question is why do people mix two codes?? If we take a look from sociolinguistic eyes, the code mixing is happened in the condition of Pidgin (we will discuss Pidgin, Creole and Lingua Franca in some other time :P) moment, that’s the condition where two group of people that has different codes want to communicate each other. Pidgin moment is not the only linguistic reason why people do code mixing. Sometimes, people do code mixing just to make sure that the interlocutor completely understands what the speaker says in order to maintain the conversation. However, if we look at the way of people speaking lately, code mixing doesn’t appear only in the condition that we have discussed before. It seems like, especially in Indonesia, people do codes mixing in order to show how cool and smart they are. It is known that Indonesian people are so overreacting anything about abroad… anything! Stuff, Photos, Traveling, and Language. Thus, if a person pronounce “alien terms” (read: term in different code), it sounds cool and smart for the society.

Code Switching

 Next, we come to code switching. Switching, means changes therefore code switching is an exchange from one code to another code. It can be inferred that speaker change his/her code to different code during his/her speaking.

For example:

There are two Minangkabaunese people who are in a conversation that clearly use Minangkabau language. Then, a person who is Javanese people is approaching and joins the conversation. Therefore, two Minangkabaunese people do code switching into Bahasa Indonesia.

One of the reasons why people do code switching is to appreciate the interlocutor that they talk to. Besides, it can be categorized as an action to maintain the conversation. Of course it does! Personally, if I’m in the conversation which the code I don’t understand at all, I’ll walk away and say good byeJ. The other reason why people do code switching is in order to prevent “skeptical” thought from the people who don’t understand the code which is currently pronounced. One of the skeptical thought is “they are speaking different code, they’re OBVIOUSLY talking about me! Right in front of me! On my face!” Dang it! Sweet Niblets! Therefore, there would be missed understanding among the relationship. You know what happen next, I don’t have to explain more…That’s what people want to prevent about. Last, why people do code switching because some people believe a “marketing thought” that frequently said by international businessman, which is said:

“If you speak international language to a foreigner, you’ll get their brain. Whereas, if you speak their language you’ll get their heart”

 Should I explain more about that proverb???.... :-)

Live Maruko??

Whooooooaaaaaa so happy……. I watched Chibi Maruko Chan Live version lately which the anime version that can be watched through RCTI.

Chibi Marulo Chan Live version by Momoko Sakura is so hilarious where the character is exactly just like in anime or manga version.

Maruko-Chan

Story:

It is about Maruko Sakura’s (Chibi Maruko Chan) life who lives at small town in Japan along with her dad, mom, older sister, grandma and her beloved grandpa (Oji San) as well. Even though this family can be categorized as “weird and absurd”, but they are so compact and make me touched (ooooowwwwwwwwwwwwh T_T)

Besides, her school life also mentioned: Tama chan (her best budJ), her class mates who are apparently absurd and weird (it’s a weirdo story) her hate about mathematic that make her always sick (I don’t think we have something in common, cuz I did love math when I was in schoolJ, waiiiiit!!! Just in school! I said in school!!)

The story is so light and “touched” about daily life which I assume that every single person experienced what Maruko does. However, the simple story makes me so curious to watch it over and over and guess what happen next. Moreover, small town in Japan “setting” which is beautiful, school uniform (I missed my school things T_T), and Japanese school kid back pack that make you jealous. Definitely, excessive comical expression is so damn funny but not corny. It seems like you watch a real comic and make you want to turn back where you fall asleep on the couch and wake up on the bed (you know what I mean :-P)   

Rock, Scissors, and Paper

Hey bloggie, long time no shares… yeah it’s been a while since couple of months ago. . Anyway, did you remember your kid period???? Yeah… I know dude, most of you don’t remember what you have done, do you???? Including me !!! :-P… well I say that child period was a drunk, everybody knows what you did, but you didn’t. Now I have my own experience about SCISSORS, ROCK, and PAPER. Have u played those kinds of things, haven’t you…..????

see? how "rock" the rock?

 I remember how skeptical I was when I complained with my child period friend… his name Rian (I have no idea where the hell he is now since he going away from my neighborhood for the reasons that I don’t even wanna know). I understand that scissors can beat paper, and I get how rock can beat scissors, but there’s no fu*kin’ way paper can beat Rock. Is Paper supposed to magically wrap around Rock leaving it immobile? Why the hell can’t Paper do this to Scissors? Screw Scissors!, why can’t paper do this to people? Why isn’t notebook Paper constantly suffocating students while they take note in class???? I’ll tell you why: because Paper can’t beat anybody, a rock would tear that shit (read: Paper) up in 2 seconds. When I played paper/rock/scissors, I always choose Rock. Then when somebody claims to beat me with their Paper, I can punched them in the face with my already clenched fist and said “ oh shit, I’m so sorry about that. I thought your obnoxious paper would protect you Jerk!!!.” I always wondering who the inventor of this game is, does he/she has seen Rock for the entire of his/her life???? Seems he/she doesn’t even know the ability of rock. Congratulation then dear inventor, you’re successful cheating on children, but it doesn’t work to me :-P  

Home vs House

Today I would like to talk about linguistic since I have a bit interest on these kinds of things. Well, I have asked by my students about the house couple of days ago. I said the synonym of house is home. However after I came home, I analyze that home and house has a difference. Well, basically the meaning of these words are same, and it reflect that English has many word to define something. I would like to show you the difference. Let’s take a look at these couple of words:

Homesick

Hometown

Broken-home

Can we sub homesick into housesick, hometown into housetown, and broken home into broken house? There is no specific term about housesick and housetown.

I can assume that “home” tends to the soul of the speaker rather than “house” which tends to physic of the building.

Homesick: the feeling of some one that miss his/her hometown so bad

Broken-home: broken family and it is related to the soul of the family members. However, broken house: the building of the house is broken caused by earth quake, tornado or somehow, not caused by someone’s soul.

So it is clear that the difference between home and house is on the object of the conversation, if somehow you tends to discuss about feeling or soul it will be accurate by using word ”home”. On the other hand you can use word “house” when you discuss about the building indeed.

Practice Teaching Note

Hello every one, long time no share… this occasion I would like to share you about “my practice teaching”… well, let me start it over on the beginning, it’s around January, I don’t know the exact date when all the senior year were on race to get favorite place to teach on. Most of them tend to like to teach as near as possible of campus because of several consideration. Thesis guidance (oh man…. I little bit afraid of hear that word), taking another class. Those all several reason why the senior year student want to fight for near place for practice teaching, well all I want to say is, I’m so grateful that I don’t have to take another class or re run another class, I’ve done all subjects right on the plan (YES ^^). However, thesis guidance is the other consideration that spinning in my head. In the end, I don’t really give a damn on it, it was decided, I don’t think that I give my you know what and you know who for this semester.

Well the day had come… and I failed the race,..  I just did random click at the time and I stuck in some random area that was called AGAM… I don’t have any idea about that area…. I was numb at the time…

But it’s all began… the story that I think it will be a nice memory. I really thanks to DENIL, a friend who want to take me to the school that she would practice then (but I’m so SORRY for PTK problem, I really didn’t mean toL) and DIKA, a friend who want ask recommendation from the school, so I don’t have to go to school and just wait and see at campus (thank you very much DUDEJ).

For the living place, I welcomed by funny INZTA family, I felt so home, and made me miss my family so much… but all the family were SO NICE to me.. in the school I met very nice FRIENDS (other than 2 buddies I mention before :-P) they are BANG TOM, PUJA, ISES, IGA, OCY, IWEL, HELEND, and INES… and the warm SENIORS (k’ NORA n K’ DESI)… last but not least, my PAMONG, bu’ MUFIARNIS..

The school was not really big, but the society was great. I was asked to my pamong to teach only one class VIII.5, first thing about that, I was so pleased because I didn’t have many classes to teach… day by day I felt bored to go to school because of lack of activities L (yeah I know there was daily picket and library picket as well) everything was going so FLAT…and I wanted to end up it so soon….badly!!

But I don’t know exactly how it happened, there was a student who admired me (-____-“), it became worst because it become a prank and jokes among PL teacher… I didn’t take it seriously after all but, the rumor has gone so fast to the students.. I was doom fella, and speechless.. the one and only way to get through was just follow the rule of game :-/….

Meanwhile, 14^th of May, has become unpredictable moment, me made DENIL so mad. It because of I sent her action report to my other friend WITHOUT any permission (I think for her It’s fundamental), and I didn’t know what exactly happen with DENIL and my other friend who ask DENIL’s report…. Since then, we don’t even talk a single word …. I send her my apologize through SMS but didn’t get any reply… so made me confusion. The next day, I tried to start the conversation but her face didn’t look want to talk to me, since then I decided I think I gotta walk away, or I would make it worst…(but in the end, we shake our hand) 

Back to the school, I think the school was pretty good. Many students’ achievements were often announced in flag ceremony…I’m so proud become of part of the school. The senior student farewell party has become a drama between IGA and her PAMONG… it was so irritating, her PAMONG messed up the PLAN that has been set.. PASKIBRAKA community was also great, and the farewell party as well.

Hence, i would like to say, I’m so grateful what GOD has set to me… I know His plan is better than mine.. for the school and those kind of things.. I’ll always remember you… I’ll keep you like a photograph J

Something that I thought in bright day

April 30^th, 2012

Actually, I wanna continue my thesis proposal writing; somehow I don’t have enough of willingness to do so. Well, for this occasion I would like to talk about teaching, teacher and those kinds of things. Teacher… o… teacher.. it doesn’t even flash on my mind when I was thinking about my future. Any who, now It almost even closer gonna be wrapped my future then. Well, based on my prophet Muhammad SAW testimony, he told us that every single person in this world has 4 options related to the teaching (I don’t get the Arabic one, so don’t ask me then!!! ‘-_-‘). First, being teacher, he/ she would be a model for whatever they do, wear, utterance and written. In this case, for those teacher should be aware for those kinds of things, coz many couple of eyes on you!! You are the real superstar then; most of your student will be gossiping you around. So show up your superstar mentality. The next one is studying; my prophet said if somehow you are not capable to be a teacher, you should be a student who learns anything through your teacher. For all of you in this level, we have to obey to our teacher; somehow we don’t get what the heck the teacher buzzing around in the classroom however when the examination we can get through that without any cheating-ness. That’s what monk people called the “invisible hand” a.k.a GOD ROLE. He got his eyes on everything in this world. Those things happen to our parents as well. Remember fella, parent’s ridho is Allah’s ridho. The most important, mom’s prayer is the most effective magic spells in the world. Thus, respect your parent dude!! The third one is imitating. We as human have an incredible skill to copy anything in the world. I said anything, coz human being has marvelous organ which is called BRAIN. In controlling this tool, we are stuck in the intersection which dominated by heart that tends to KINDNESS, and desire that tends to EVIL. We have to control those guys so we are in the balance spot. Thus, we can decide soft and tenderly which one should be copied and shouldn’t. Well, most of teenage has problem in this point. Most of them are brainless in considering what they are gonna be. Seems they dress up and act like someone in order to get NOTICE by the society. Totally pathetic!!. I called this problem as “FRIENDSHIP PRESSURE”. I have a kinda trick to overcome this problem, being notice by society. Get some achievement! ! a little things that transform society toward you :-P!! the last one is a nitwit men. They don’t wanna be a teacher, student and even imitate someone!! What the heck those guy going to be, I bet, they gonna be jackass, idiot, and scum. What a despicable!.... thus, everything is in your hand…. Life is choice J

Hmmm… talking about teacher… based on my practice teaching experience which is currently happening, it is quiet in between. Somehow it can be easy and difficult. NO MATTER, WHAT STRATEGY, TECHNIQUE, METHOD AND APPROACH THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. THERE ALWAYS BE DIFFERENT STUDENTS WHO ARE WAITING FOR YOU TO GET SERVE WITH DIFFERENT ACT IN THE SAME ROOM AND THE SAME TIME. It’s obvious that teacher is a great human. I do realize my last statement after faking around in my practice teaching time Hehehehe :-P. Anyway, those all for you for the teacher… and for me I always have a twisted in my mind what I’m gonna be….. However, I always bet to myself. Coz gambling is never boring, isn’t it? J

Short Vacation

January 28^th, 2012

It was a great day. I was invited to join to go around west Sumatra. It was the second time, I got the technically identical invitation. First, from my classmate, last from my wisma mate. I refuse the first invitation because I had another agenda on the day that proposed. Somehow…. I feel guilty about that …. But I think it’s how priority theory work out. You have to decide which one more important than another, we can analyze that from your position. Use “what if” technique to predict what’s coming next if somehow you do this and this, finally you can decide what you supposed to do.

I know, It’s pretty hard to decide when the 2 things has an equal strength to you, which is called “GALAU” in Indonesian. I do admit that somehow I got “beep” …about that… but… islamically, you can do sholat isthikaharah in midnight, ask god to give you the path to decide among them…

The last technique that you can do is listening to your heart… I know it sounds easy to say “ hey bud no need to think about that, just listen to your heart” I had an experienced on that situation.. however it’s not easy listening to your heart unless you’re gonna breaking apart. I remember how I try to listen my heart moronically, I ask my heart to say by asking “IT” alone on my bed “ hello there my heart, just say something, just only you and me… sure! For real!” in the bathroom as well “hey my deepest heart, could you say something when I take a shower??” but it doesn’t work….

However, I think everyone has their own way to have chit-chat with your heart…. You’ll find out later….

@#$%

Back to the first invitation, I decided to ditch first invitation since I had to get along with the friends who have the same school to practice teaching school… we technically are 3 men 9 women… but 2 guys didn’t caome… and once again I got “beep” on that situation…  --_________--‘

The next day, my wisma mate asks me whether join him to get around to west Sumatra, I think it’s a good idea… I decided to get along….. first place that we visited was  “tea garden” I don’t know where exactly it is, but it’s located somehow around south solok… it’s cool place.. cool for real.. coz we are exactly behind Talang Mount, Brrrr….

 we do just like any other people on vacation… “photo session”

Flash! Pose! Flash! Pose!

One thing that make me stink about this agenda was checking “almost every single” photo after taken.. I don’t know what they wanted, they said if it wasn’t good… “erase it” have I told you about PHOTOgenic vs PHOTOSHOPgenic ? let me explain briefly, Photogenic is the person that always cool in every single photo shoot, otherwise photoshopgenic is the person that always “cool” in every single photo edit :-P

So, PHOTOSHOPgenic is a great solution for the “erased photo”

The next destination was “up and down lake”.... nothing special up there…. L

The next tourism spot was Singkarak lake, first I heard about this place during vacation… not so curious.. coz I’ve been there for couple of times…

On the way to that lake,there was a truck stuck on the lake… so we turn around and find out another secret way to get through… the truck technically gave me a new experience, the secret way took me to the place which called by native around there as “ CANADIAN PEAK” I don’t know why, don’t ask me:-P

It’s high place.. so you can see the complete singkarak lake, so damn awesome! But from the hearsay that native say…  on this peak it’s hard to find out water.. I wonder why people want to leave on the place like this… geographycally it’s hard to find out water,, I wonder how deep if somehow they have a sewer on that peak…. How they’re pee and poop since water is not around?? Do they just dig a hole and put them on that?? Do they flush on their butt?? Uuhhhhh….. weird.. so barbarian…

Going down the peak …. and find out place to “bath” only 4 men jump into the water…. No women… actually, I wanna take off my pants and shirt at the time… but I realized that I don’t bring any boxer or hawaian pants it’s weird seems I’m not belong to the my wisma mate.

*itwasotherclassvacationijustinvited:-P

So I don’t wanna freaking out other class vacation just going around by “hidden pants”.. since I know 3 of 14of them… 3 friends and the rest was…. FB said mutual friend :-P

I decided to hunt “cherry” nearby shore.. one thing that surprise me was, A## touch a chick shoulder in photo session *thisagendaneverforgotten-__-… the girl scream, wow… I think a## has developed very well… hahahhahaha

Padang panjang was the next destination… the spot that was visited was “Bakso Amin” if I’m not mistaken… that was so crowd.. I don’t know why, I think the menu, taste and price was standard… one possible reason was it’s Saturday night, time for people love to hang out.

We stayed at my mutual friends home… I’m freezed…. It’s bukit tinggi, you know that ….

The last spot was “JAM GADANG” … I think it just like city hall on that city.. many people came with their family….  Date with their sweetheart *italmost4yearsthenT-T ,buddies,

Just like usual

Flash! Pose! Flash! Pose!

Eat some snacks… home….. dinner…. And sleep tight…. Totally tight with warm and tender blanket…..zzzzzzzzzzz J

Next morning, burst out to pdg…………………………………………………….. it was a great short vacation after all J