Browsing by Author "Azzouz, Abderraouf"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Code-Switching and Code-Switching Among Khenchela University EFL Students: Self-Reported practices, Motivations, and Functions
    (UNIVERSITY OF ABBES LAGHROUR-KHENCHELA, 2026) Azzouz, Abderraouf; Dakhouche, Fahima
    Abstract Code-switching on digital platforms is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon. This research has analyzed a group of Algerian English foreign language learners (EFL) in the university of Khenchela to identify how and why they implemented code-switching on Instagram. Previous studies in this field were conducted with populations that differed from Algerian EFL students in their linguistic repertoire. Meanwhile, research in Algeria had largely examined French-Arabic code-switching or older platforms such as Facebook. This study aimed to address this gap by gathering data regarding which Poplack (1982) code-switching variant is the most frequent among the sample, as well as the linguistic and social functions they fulfilled. The research followed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. Quantitatively, it used a Likert scale questionnaire with a sample of 50 EFL learners. As for the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted afterwards with five interviewees in order to offer contextual support to the quantitative data. The findings indicated that the most reported form of code-switching in the sample group was intra-sentential code-switching, with participants selecting positive options (agree and strongly agree). Interview participants (A and B) justified their selection of intra-sentential code-switching by claiming that it was the most appropriate type for text on Instagram. In terms of motivations and functions, the study further found that participants used code-switching to communicate with followers who spoke different languages. The results suggest that the sample use code-switching on Instagram for both linguistic efficiency and social connectivity. Keywords: Code-Switching, Algeria, English, Digital Communication, Social Media, Instagram, EFL learners