Bridging Identities: Analysing Code-Mixing in Yuna's Conversation with a Local Malaysian Activist

Abstract

Code-mixing, the seamless blending of two languages within the same utterance or sentence, is a natural occurrence among proficient multilingual speakers. Recently, there has been a growing interest in exploring code-mixing due to its prevalence and significance in multilingual societies. This study aims to investigate the types and motivations behind code-mixing in Yuna's interview with a Malaysian music activist titled "Korek Fizikal bersama Yuna." Employing a qualitative research design, the study identifies three types of code-mixing (insertion, alternation, and congruent lexicalization) using Musyken's classification. The framework of Hoffman's theory of code-mixing is adopted to categorize the reasons for its usage, such as expressing identity and emphasizing points. Throughout the interview, Yuna's code-mixing is prevalent, notably employed to assert her local Malaysian identity and establish familiarity with the interviewer. This highlights the significance of code-mixing as a powerful communicative tool for expressing cultural identity and building rapport in interviews. The findings of this research have broader implications for our understanding of language dynamics and bilingualism in multicultural societies like Malaysia. By comprehending how proficient multilingual speakers utilize code-mixing, we can gain valuable insights into the sociolinguistic aspects of language use and intercultural communication.