<div dir="ltr"><h1 class="">Diluting linguistic discipline</h1>
<div id="article_content" class="">
<div id="article_body" class="">
<p>The language issue has reared its loquacious head again in recent
stories about code-switching, prompted by the release of the last
edition of the Language Education Policy Profile by the Council of
Europe.</p>
<p>Even more recently (May 29), the government announced a major
evaluation of local standards of English to be conducted by Cambridge
English.</p>
<p>In my last contribution to this newspaper (January 19), in which I
challenged the perceived fall in the level of English usage in Malta, I
referred to the importance of establishing realistic school-based
language policies across Malta and Gozo.</p>
<p>Their purpose would obviously be the development of a good standard
of English among students, in particular in its spoken dimension, which I
have always considered to be the ‘Cinderella’ of the four language
skills in Malta. In fact, a well thought-out and pragmatic language
policy can be a good weapon to use against code-switching and
code-mixing.</p>
<p>Incidentally, the Times of Malta editorial of May 19 about this
subject made no distinction between the two practices and it may be
useful to do it here.</p>
<div class="">
</div>
<div class="">
<div class="">The PN needs people who will stay the course in this hour of need</div>
</div>
<p>Code-switching refers to the practice of switching deliberately from
one language to another to satisfy the perceived need of the audience.
Such ‘switching’ usually involves utterances that are longer than a
single sentence. An example would be when, on a public occasion, a
speaker may first address the audience in Maltese and then in English to
cater for speakers of both languages present in the audience.</p>
<p>In a broader sense, code-switching refers also to the
institutionalised norm of having school subject materials in English
(such as, say, in geography) while the lesson may be largely delivered
in Maltese.</p>
<p>Code-mixing, on the other hand, refers to the quasi-spontaneous way
in which bilingual speakers speaking to their counterparts shift from
one language to another even within a phrase or sentence, as, for
example, in: “Iva biżżejjed għax I’m going crazy!’”</p>
<p>The reader may question my evident tone of bias against this
practice, especially in light of the generally positive commentaries it
has received in the press. The editorial indeed celebrates this
practice, proclaiming: “Mixing English and Maltese is good”. But only in
Malta, one hastens to add, to borrow a much-used and abused cliché. The
reason is logical and obvious.</p>
<p>Code-mixing and switching is indeed a useful communicative tool but
only when interacting with speakers of the same linguistic profile, in
our case, bilingual Maltese. Most of us mix codes in a spontaneous way
when it is most appropriate and convenient and always when interacting
with fellow bilinguals.</p>
<p>In practice, our code-mixing will not work in England or Italy,
Germany or the US. In fact, it has to be accepted that code-mixing and,
to a lesser degree, code-switching, is bad for language learning.</p>
<p>Indeed, it can be a hindrance to language learning because the
student who is schooled in the habit of code-mixing must learn to
suppress the use of an additional language and express himself or
herself entirely in one target language.</p>
<p>And old habits die hard, the saying goes.</p>
<p>Implementing a coherent and practical language policy in schools
should help to raise the level of English in general and of spoken
English in particular.</p>
<p>Its workings are perhaps too complex an issue to be delved into here.</p>
<p>In brief, the main benefit of a school-based language policy is the
way it establishes clear boundaries, within the school premises, of when
students and staff are expected to use either of the two languages. At
present, it is fair to say (this may hopefully be disputed) that, except
during the English and Maltese lessons, students are at a loss about
when and where they should speak either language at school.</p>
<p>This situation does not help linguistic development because it
dilutes linguistic discipline, foils good practice opportunities and
encourages code-mixing.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="">
<div class="">
<div class="">
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" title="Tumblr" target="_blank" class=""><span style="background-color:rgb(56,72,83)" class=""><span class="">Share on tumblr</span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" title="Facebook" class=""><span style="background-color:rgb(48,88,145)" class=""><span class="">Share on facebook</span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" title="Tweet" class=""><span style="background-color:rgb(44,168,210)" class=""><span class="">Share on twitter</span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" title="Email" target="_blank" class=""><span style="background-color:rgb(115,138,141)" class=""><span class="">Share on email</span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" title="Print" class=""><span style="background-color:rgb(115,138,141)" class=""><span class="">Share on print</span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" class=""><span style="background-color:rgb(252,109,76)" class=""><span class="">More Sharing Services</span></span></a>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" title="View more services" target="_blank" class="">0</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="">
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" class="">Print</a>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#" class="">Email</a>
</div>
<div class="">
<span id="previous_article"><a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150605/opinion/Landfills-past-present-future.571106" accesskey="3" rel="prev">« Landfills: past, present, future</a></span>
<span id="next_article"><a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/It-s-about-time-we-speak-up.571275" accesskey="4" rel="next">It’s about time we speak up »</a></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="margin:0px auto">
</div>
<div class="">
<p>
Comments are submitted under the express understanding and condition that the editor may, and is authorised to,
disclose any/all of the above personal information to any person or entity requesting the information for the
purposes of legal action on grounds that such person or entity is aggrieved by any comment so submitted.
<br><br>
At this time your comment will not be displayed immediately upon posting. Please allow some time for your comment to
be moderated before it is displayed.
<br><br>
For more details please see our <a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/comments">Comments Policy</a></p><p><a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276">http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276</a><br></p><p><a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/comments"><br></a> </p>
</div>
<div id="article_extras_section" class="">
<div class="">
</div>
<div id="widget_related_content" class="">
<div class="">
<h2><a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150606/opinion/Diluting-linguistic-discipline.571276#">Similar Stories</a></h2>
</div>
<div class="">
<ul class=""><li class="">
<img src="https://3a09223b3cd53870eeaa-7f75e5eb51943043279413a54aaa858a.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/local_18_temp-1431408618-55518fea-120x80.jpg" alt="Report says mixing languages an asset">
<h3>
<p class="">May 12th, 09:01</p>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150512/local/report-says-mixing-languages-an-asset.567824">Report says mixing languages an asset</a> </h3>
</li><li>
<h3>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150319/opinion/Do-we-speak-Maltese-.560499">Do we speak Maltese?</a> </h3>
</li><li>
<h3>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20070912/letters/code-switching.5335">Code-switching</a> </h3>
</li><li>
<h3>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150519/editorial/Mixing-English-and-Maltese-is-good.568771">Mixing English and Maltese is good</a> </h3>
</li><li>
<h3>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20061105/opinion/spelling-english-words-when-writing-in-maltese.36235">Spelling English words when writing in...</a> </h3>
</li></ul>
</div>
</div>
<div id="widget_most_viewed" class="">
<div class="">
<h2>Popular Stories</h2>
<a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/rss/opinion/views" class=""><img src="http://www.timesofmalta.com/img/rss_icon.png" alt="Popular Stories RSS Feed"></a> </div>
<div class="">
<br>
</div>
</div><div id="widget_strickland" class=""><br></div>
<div class="">
</div>
</div>
<div class="">
</div>
<div id="footer">
<div class="">
<a href="mailto:mynews@timesofmalta.com"></a><br></div>
<div class="">
<p class="">Copyright © 2015 <a href="http://timesofmalta.com">timesofmalta.com</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
</div>