Introduction
Background
In today's globalized world, English serves as the universal common language, connecting countries and communities across various fields such as economics, medicine, and entertainment Its prominence as a means of communication has been further amplified by the rise of mass media, including the internet, newspapers, and television This has led to a social phenomenon where bilingual individuals frequently engage in "code-switching," blending English with their native languages in everyday conversations.
Vietnam is increasingly embracing international integration, making English an essential language in everyday life The use of English alongside Vietnamese has become commonplace, permeating various sectors such as education, business, and entertainment Notably, the phenomenon of code-switching in Vietnamese rap songs highlights the growing influence of English in the entertainment industry.
Code-switching, as defined by Wardhaugh (2006, p.101), refers to the practice of a speaker using multiple languages, varieties, or styles within a single utterance or across different conversations and contexts.
The rising popularity of English in rap songs in Vietnam has initiated a trend among young musicians and the broader entertainment industry This prompted a researcher to explore the different types of code-switching employed in rap music, leading to discoveries about the linguistic features and functions associated with English switching.
Aims of the research
The use of English words in contemporary Vietnamese rap songs is a prevalent phenomenon This study aims to explore the theoretical foundations and apply linguistic methods to analyze the linguistic features involved in the incorporation of English into these songs It seeks to demonstrate that the presence of English terms is a result of code-switching within the context of language contact.
Music consists of two main components: musical instruments and lyrics Many songs feature lyrics in multiple languages, and analyzing these instances helps to understand the reasons behind the use of code-switching in music.
Research questions
Based on the purpose that the researcher aims at above, the research questions are posed as follows:
- What are the types of code-switching used in rap songs in Vietnam?
- How are linguistic features expressed in English lyrics?
- What could be the reasons leading to the use of code-switching in rap songs in Vietnam?
The scope of the study
This study explores transcoding issues in 100 Vietnamese rap songs, emphasizing the interplay between English and Vietnamese as both a common language and the mother tongue The research analyzes 1,152 instances of code-switching, with song data sourced from various platforms, including Nhac.vn, lyrics, Zingmp3, and nhaccuatui.
Significance of the Study
This study aims to contribute valuable insights to language research and serve as a foundation for future investigations By analyzing data on code-switching in songs and related phenomena, the research seeks to foster meaningful scientific discussions The findings may also provide a basis for other researchers to enhance and expand upon this work in the future.
Organization of the Study
This research paper is structured into five chapters, as follows:
The first chapter outlines the study's problem, detailing the reasons, aims, research questions, scope, and significance of the research Additionally, it presents a preliminary structure of the study paper.
Literature review
Theoretical background
Code-switching is a common communicative strategy in bilingual communities, where individuals proficiently speak two languages and select the code that most effectively conveys their intentions (Alcnauerová, 2013, p 6).
Transcoding has been explored through multiple lenses, such as psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, philosophy, and anthropology Additionally, some scholars view transcoding as a strategy within advertising communication or an advertising strategy, particularly from the standpoint of communication learning (Huyen, 2017, p.31).
Many researchers have defined the concept of "code-switching." Hymes
Code-switching, as defined by Gumperz (1974), refers to the alternate use of two or more languages, language varieties, or speech styles, particularly among bilinguals who shift between languages Poplack (1979) further clarifies this by describing code-switching as the alternation of two languages within a single discourse, sentence, or constituent Similarly, Bokamba (1989) explores these concepts, highlighting the dynamic nature of language use among bilingual speakers.
The integration of diverse grammatical elements, including affixes, words, phrases, and clauses, occurs across sentence boundaries during a speech event Participants in this cooperative activity must align their auditory perceptions with their understanding to accurately interpret the intended message.
“Code-switching is a conversational strategy used establish, cross or destroy group boundaries; to create, evoke or change interpersonal relations with their rights and obligations.”
Code-switching, or code-mixing, refers to the practice of alternating between different languages or dialects in conversation, as noted by Wardhaugh (2006, p.101) This phenomenon can happen between turns of different speakers or even within a single speaker's turn, allowing individuals to switch codes or mix them, sometimes in brief expressions.
In summary, code-switching refers to the practice of bilingual or multilingual individuals alternating between two or more languages within a single conversation or utterance, often employing specific communication strategies to achieve particular objectives.
From a grammatical perspective, Poplack (1979, cited in Romaine 1995, p.122-123), defines three main types of code-switching which are:
Tag switching is simply the insertion of a tag (a phrase or word) in one language in an utterance which is entirely in the other language
Hendar (2012) identifies tag switching as the primary form of code-switching, which involves the inclusion of independent elements within sentences, applicable to both interrogative and declarative forms Romaine, as cited in Hendar (2012), notes that this type of switch can occur at various points in a sentence, provided there are minimal syntactic restrictions, allowing tags from one language to be interspersed with utterances in another language.
The following example is quoted from the paper by Yusuf et al (2018)
“You know, Din, gue harus bilang terima kasih sama lo”
[I have to say thank you to you] (p.5)
In this example, the underlined phrase serves as a tag for a Vietnamese word or phrase, rather than being part of the main sentence structure The addition of a tag does not affect the overall sentence, as tags have no syntactic constraints and can be freely repositioned.
Inter-sentential switching refers to the practice of a speaker alternating between languages at the sentence level According to Kebeya (2013), this phenomenon occurs when one sentence is expressed in one language, followed by another sentence in a different language.
Intersentential switching necessitates a significant amount of syntactic complexity as well as adherence to the rules of both languages It appears outside of the sentence or clause
“Ờ, ngon đấy Mang đây anh làm cho Come on baby.”
“Ếu, nhiều thế You’re crazy.” (Huyen, 2017, p.67)
Intra-sentential switching refers to the switching that occurs inside the same clause or sentence which then contains elements of both languages, usually performed without pause, interruption or hesitation
Intra-sentential code-switching, as defined by Mujiono (2013), involves switching between languages at the clause, phrase, or word level without any morphophonological adaptation This type of code-switching is considered the most complex, as it necessitates the speaker's ability to manage two linguistic systems simultaneously.
Here are some illustrative examples for Intra-sentential switching:
Chị đã chọn một ví dụ tiêu biểu cho B1 và dành 15 tuần để giảng dạy, trong đó 3 tuần cuối tập trung vào việc hướng dẫn học sinh về cấu trúc đoạn văn, gần như là coaching để các em làm quen hơn.
“You đã book bác sĩ cho me chưa vậy?” (Bao, 2011, p.9)
The English words “typical”, “paragraph” and “coaching”/ “book, me” are added in the middle of Vietnamese sentences The substitution process takes place right in the sentence
According to Gumperz (1982), he argued that there are two other types of code-switching: situational and metaphorical code-switching
Situational code-switching refers to the practice of using various languages or language varieties depending on the social context According to Jendra (2010, p.76), this phenomenon occurs when a change in the situation prompts a bilingual individual to switch from one linguistic code to another.
In a brief dialogue, situational code-switching is illustrated as individuals transition from Bahasa Indonesia to English due to the presence of an English native-speaker friend, highlighting the influence of social context on language use (Jendra, 2010, p.77, cited in Sari).
Agus : Menurutku, semuanya karena mereka tidak tahu persis artinya,
Agus: Eh, How’re you Mark?, Mark, this is Made, our friend from
Made: Nice to meet you, Mark
Mark: Nice to meet you too
What are you two talking about?
Agus : Nah, ini dia kita bisa…Mark, can you help us?
According to Wardhaugh (2018), metaphorical code-switching takes place within a single context and enhances the meaning of various elements, such as the dynamics of role relationships This process involves altering the code to redefine the situation, transitioning from formal to informal, official to personal, serious to humorous, and politeness to solidarity.
In below is the example of a conversation in a classroom (Eyato, 2018, p.65)
T: jadi jawaban dari teman kalian itu benar ya! Idiom is a collection of some of the word phrases or sentenses for spesial meaning or definition some word are made Jadi maksudnya idiom adalah sekumpulan dari kata, kalimatatau yang membentuk makna khusus Atau defenisi dari kata-kata yang dibuat
Previous studious on code-switching
This research paper is structured into five chapters, as follows:
The first chapter outlines the study's problem, detailing the reasons, objectives, research questions, scope, and significance of the research Additionally, it presents a preliminary structure of the study paper.
The second chapter establishes the theoretical framework for the research problem, offering essential definitions and various types of code-switching It also reviews prior studies on code-switching and explores the rationale behind its use in songs.
Methodology
Introduction
This chapter gives overall presents the methods of data collection and data analysis to clarify the problem that the study is aimed at
This chapter is divided into two sections: the first outlines the data collection methods and their rationale, along with the procedures for gathering data The second section focuses on the methods used for data analysis.
Research procedures
The following steps were made:
- Making data collection (English words, phrases, and sentences) on code- switching in Vietnam based on the selected rap music database
- Sorting code-switching types according to Poplack's classification (1995)
- Calculating the exact percentage and the frequency of each sort of code- switching (intra-sentential switching, inter-sentential switching, and tag switching) used in rap songs
- Analyzing the linguistic aspects (word, phrase, sentence) of these instances in each form of code-switching Make a table of frequency statistics and calculate percentages
Further analysis reveals various categories of words, including nouns, verbs, and adjectives, as well as different types of phrases such as noun phrases, verb phrases, and adjective phrases Additionally, sentences can be classified based on their structure and function The next step involves creating frequency statistics and calculating percentages.
- The researcher went on to make claims concerning the function of code- switching in Rap songs after examining and analyzing
- Finally, the study's findings were summarized.
Data collection
A researcher analyzed one hundred rap songs, totaling approximately fifty-three thousand words, sourced from various online platforms The popularity of code-switching among Vietnamese singers and songwriters provided a diverse selection for the study The data included were specifically chosen based on established criteria.
- These 100 rap songs reflect modern Vietnamese music created between 2010 and 2022
- They were composed and sung by young artists between the ages of 20 and
40, who represent the Vietnamese youth today
- The lyrics are in multiple languages
The following songs were then selected:
N o Song Singer Source of lyrics
1 Đừng gọi anh là idol Đen Vâu https://genius.com/En-ung-goi-anh-la-idol-lyrics
2 Mưa trên những mái tôn Đen Vâu https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/9iqaa/muatrennhungmaiton/
3 Color of life Lil Shady https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/xrfjv/coloroflife/
4 Ghé thăm Đen Vâu https://genius.com/En-ghe-tham-lyrics
5 Mơ Đen Vâu https://lyricsjonk.com/en-vu-m.html
6 Hai triệu năm Đen Vâu https://genius.com/En-hai-trieu-nam-lyrics
LK, Binz, Karik, Đen, https://lyricvn.com/loi-bai-hat-forever-love-lk-binz- karik-den-bigdaddy-t-akayz-andree-soobin-hoang- son-yanbi/
Người ơi người ở đừng về
Suboi, Đức Phúc https://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/nguoi-oi-nguoi- o-dung-ve-duc-phuc-ft-suboi.TRoNdt4KKT2G.html
Suboi https://hoatieu.vn/loi-bai-hat-ten-ten-girls-suboi-x- tlinh-204238
10 Trời cho Suboi https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/vsmcl/troicho/
11 Lời thỉnh cầu Suboi https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/uhdjc/loithinhcau/
12 Đời Suboi https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/doi-suboi-soBY3j1
13 Kệ Suboi https://www.lyriccuatui.com/loi-bai-hat-ke-suboi/
14 Chất của riêng tôi Suboi https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/chat-rieng-cua-toi-suboi- sowzJBB
15 Nói với em BigDaddy https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/3pw4s/noivoiem/
16 Come back down Suboi https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/6ntvf/comebackdown/
17 Quậy đáng yêu Suboi https://www.lyriccuatui.com/quay-dang-yeu-loi-bai- hat-suboi/
18 Cô ta Lil Shady https://nhachay.vn/loi-bai-hat-co-ta/
19 Underground Lil Shady https://loibaihat.tv/loi-bai-hat-underground-lil-shady-
20 Lệ nào cho tôi Lil Shady https://loibaihat.tv/loi-bai-hat-le-nao-cho-toi-lil- shady-zenky-126100.html
21 Siêu sao Lil Shady https://tainhaccho.net/loi-bai-hat/lil-shady/ktl1k/sieu- sao.htm
22 Ngay tại cái lúc này Lil Shady https://loibaihat.tv/loi-bai-hat-ngay-tai-cai-luc-nay- lil-shady-130561.html
23 Ông bà già tao lo hết Bình Gold https://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/ong-ba-gia-tao- lo-het-binh-gold-ft-lil-shady.DH0z7uBuNzzI.html
24 Lái máy bay Bình Gold https://genius.com/Binh-gold-lai-may-bay-lyrics
TMT https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/tell-me-why-mr-a-sopKEW
26 That’s da the way U love
Mr A, Onionn https://genius.com/Mra-banh-bao-thats-da-way-u- luv-me-lyrics me
27 How about you Mr A https://genius.com/Mra-how-about-you-lyrics
Mr A, Cường Seven https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/0f12v/championz/
29 Rain and sunshine Mr A https://loibaihat.tv/loi-bai-hat-rain-and-sunshine-mr- a-146270.html
30 Hai thế giới Wowy https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/hai-the-gioi-karik-wowy- soeeoav
31 Brother Wowy https://hoatieu.vn/loi-bai-hat-brother-wowy-205287
32 Khu tao sống Wowy https://lyricvn.com/loi-bai-hat-khu-tao-song-karik/
33 Lạc quan Wowy https://loibaihat.biz/lyric/ltl2p/lacquan/
34 Em là ngôi sao Wowy,
Karik https://loicakhuc.com/loi-bai-hat-em-la-ngoi-sao- superstar-karik-ft-wowy/t4W.html
35 Diamond Lil Wuyn https://genius.com/Lil-wuyn-diamond-lyrics
36 Stop me Lil Wuyn https://sonichits.com/video/Lil_Wuyn/Stop_Me
37 Đến rồi lại đi Lil Wuyn https://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/den-roi-lai-di- lil-wuyn-ft-nvm.uckSopt8E17d.html
38 Don’t waste my time Lil Wuyn https://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/dont-waste-my- time-lil-wuyn-ft-16-typh.ZpF5P89J7DIo.html
SMO https://genius.com/Lil-wuyn-jump-lyrics
Lil Wuyn, SMO, Khoa Wzzy https://lyricvn.com/loi-bai-hat-rap-cho-nhieu-nghe-si/
41 Noi may nghe Lil Wuyn,
SMO, https://www.lyriccuatui.com/loi-bai-hat-noi-cho- may-nghe-lik-kay/
42 Phi hành gia Lil Wuyn,
Renja https://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/phi-hanh-gia- renja-ft-slow-t-ft-lil-wuyn-ft-kain-viet-nam-ft-sugar- cane.rGyLEr29Dvv5.html
Suboi, 95G https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/95G-feat-
Wowy-Suboi-Bred/Viet-Nam
44 Bigcityboi Binz https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/bigcityboi-binz-soPJbqk
45 They said Binz https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/they-said-binz-touliver- so735ao
46 Sao cũng được Binz https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/sao-cung-duoc-binz-somLpbA
Phương Ly https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/so-close-binz-phuong-ly- so5AoxR
48 Nguyên team đi vào hết Binz https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/nguyen-team-di-vao-het-binz- soLrNPe
49 Together Binz https://hoatieu.vn/loi-bai-hat-together-binz-204148
50 021 Binz https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/021-binz-touliver-so5AV8O
MrT, Trang Pháp https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/butterfly-trang-phap-mr-t- sobYW1P
MrT, Trang Pháp https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/mr-play-boy-trang-phap-mr-t- soG49nW
Yanbi https://loicakhuc.com/loi-bai-hat-bad-boy-yanbi-mr- t-tmt-bueno-yanbi-ft-mr-t-ft-tmt-ft-bueno/dI0.html
54 Vì em so đẹp Thành
Draw https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/vi-em-so-dep-thanh-draw- so3wlDv
55 Ba Da Bum B Ray https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/ba-da-bum-b-ray-so5Owpj
56 Tíc tắc B Ray https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/tic-tac-b-ray-so0Mykn
57 Phép màu B Ray https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/phep-mau-b-ray-solGPJW
58 Way back home B Ray https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/way-back-home-b-ray-v- so4oL8j
59 Boy mỹ con B Ray https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/boy-my-con-b-ray-soEoVLP
60 Đừng tin her B Ray https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/dung-tin-her-young-h-b-ray- masew-soLN7W0
JustaTee https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/dan-choi-xom-justatee-rpt- mck-soaREpq
MCK, Tlinh https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/em-la-chau-bau-tlinh-rpt-mck- sod3mVr
63 Anh vẫn OK MCK https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/anh-van-ok-rpt-mck- soKMLjK
64 Giàu vì bạn sang vì vợ MCK https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/giau-vi-ban-sang-vi-vo-rpt- mck-sozKBnJ
65 Suy MCK https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/suy-rpt-mck-somLp5O
66 Mặc sự đời Tlinh https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/mac-su-doi-tlinh-soYw43D
67 Chú chó trên ô tô Tlinh https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/chu-cho-tren-o-to-tlinh- soox7YK
68 Tình yêu bận bịu Tlinh https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/tinh-yeu-ban-biu-tlinh- so7EQ5o
69 On the game Big Daddy https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/on-the-game-bigdaddy- so4lBd9
Big Daddy, Soobin https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/het-roi-con-dau-bigdaddy- soobin-hoang-son-sorprv5
71 Nói với em Big Daddy https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/noi-voi-em-bigdaddy-sorprPz
Justatee https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/play-girl-bigdaddy-justatee- sokJw9L
73 Gu của anh là châu Á
Yuno Bigboi https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/gu-cua-anh-la-chau-a-yuno- bigboi-soQzkl4
Yuno Bigboi https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/dam-hay-khong-dam-yuno- bigboi-soed3xz
75 Đôi lời MrT https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/doi-loi-karik-mr-t-so8oWdx
76 Người chơi hệ đẹp 16Typh https://www.nhaccuatui.com/bai-hat/nguoi-choi-he- dep-cukak-remix-16-typh.MjCCLdRqXjaB.html
G Ducky https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/ala-ela-karik-ricky-star-g- ducky-so88apK
78 Vì anh là gu chị
Ricky Star, Phạm Quỳnh Anh https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/vi-anh-la-gu-chi-pham-quynh- anh-ricky-star-soVPlaQ
79 Sugar baby Osad https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/sugar-baby-osad-soqMjvo
80 Khi màn hình tắt Rhymastic https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/khi-man-hinh-tat-mastal-mix- rhymastic-so5Be4O
81 Tượng Rhymastic https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/tuong-rhymastic-soNq9pX
HAI, Lyly https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/loi-duong-mat-lyly- hieuthuhai-soKMLOV
83 Freaky Squad Spacespea ker https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/freaky-squad-spacespeakers- sobVVrd
84 U là trời Gill https://nhachay.vn/loi-bai-hat-u-la-troi/
Lena, Híu, Bâu https://lyricvn.com/loi-bai-hat-peek-a-boo-with-you- lena-hiu-bau/
86 Sang xịn mịn Gill https://hoatieu.vn/loi-bai-hat-sang-xin-min-gill-ft- kewtiie-x-cukak-x-1967-210043
87 Walk da on street 16Typh https://genius.com/16-typh-walk-on-da-street-lyrics
HAI https://genius.com/Hieuthuhai-choi-lyrics
Cypher Beck’stage https://genius.com/Beckstage-x-bitis-hunter-thu-o- cypher-lyrics
90 Say em QNT https://genius.com/Qnt-say-em-lyrics
91 Breakfast Gducky https://www.lyrics.com/lyric- lf/3326269/Gducky/Breakfast
92 OK Binz https://genius.com/Binz-da-poet-ok-lyrics
93 Xin đừng nhấc máy B Ray https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/xin-dung-nhac-may-b-ray- han-sara-soLN700
94 Short skirt Niz https://loibaihat.tv/loi-bai-hat-short-skirt-niz-tran- huyen-diep-100589.html
95 Dân châu Á đã đi vô bar Kidz https://lyricvn.com/loi-bai-hat-dan-chau-a-da-di-vo- bar-kidz/
96 Don’t break my heart Binz https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/don-t-break-my-heart-binz- touliver-soBYpoy
HAI https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/cua-hieuthuhai-soMkxP5
MANBO, HIEUTHU HAI https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/hieuthuhai/1800love
Draw https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/thanh-that-thanh-draw- sobV833 10
Va vào giai điệu này MCK https://nhac.vn/bai-hat/va-vao-giai-dieu-nay-rpt-mck- soDn5k1
Table 1 List of rap songs of Vietnam using in this research
Findings and discussion
The types of code-switching used in rap songs
The researcher analyzed 100 rap songs sourced from platforms like nhac.vn and Nhaccuatui to examine the prevalence of English terms This analysis offers insights into the contemporary usage of English words within Vietnamese music.
No Types of code-switching Frequency Percentage
Table 2 Frequency and percentage of type of code-switching in rap songs
The researcher found that code-switching occurred in 1,152 utterances across 100 rap songs, as detailed in Table 2 Notable tracks include "Ghé thăm," "Mơ," "Forever Love," "Hai triệu năm," and "Bigcityboi." The data highlights specific instances of intra-sentential switching, emphasizing the linguistic diversity present in these songs.
717 instances, Inter-sentential switching is 384 instances, Tag switching is 51 instances, both Situational and Metaphorical code-switching are not the instance
To make it easier to be understood, the researcher also provides the data into chart
Intra-sentential switching Inter-sentential switching Tag switching
Situational code switching Metaphorical code switching
Chart 1 The type of code-switching in rap songs
According to Chart 1, the analysis reveals that Intra-sentential switching is the most prevalent type of code-switching, accounting for 62.23% of instances, followed by Inter-sentential switching at 33.33% Tag switching represents a smaller portion at 4.44% Notably, Situational and Metaphorical code-switching were not observed in the data, with a usage rate of 0% across the 100 rap songs analyzed.
This study examines three of the five types of code-switching discussed in chapter 2: intra-sentential switching, inter-sentential switching, and tag switching The data presented here do not encompass all findings; the complete dataset is available in the Appendix.
Linguistic features used in each type of code-switching
Intra-sentential switching happens seamlessly within a phrase, without any pauses or hesitations to indicate the transition This phenomenon can be observed at both the clause and word levels, with a study of song lyrics revealing 717 instances of such switches, representing 62.23% of a total of 1152 instances The data analysis results are summarized in the following table.
Table 3 Statistics on the occurrence of levels in the intra-sentential switching classification
According to the data presented in Table 3, the most frequent occurrence in the Intra-sentential switching classification is at the word level, with 496 instances This is followed by the phrase level, which has 189 instances, while the sentence level shows the least frequency with only 29 instances.
To make it easier to be understood, the researcher also provides the data into chart
The data presented in Chart 2 indicates that words represent the largest share at 69.18%, followed by phrases at 26.35%, and sentences, which constitute only 4.47%.
To make the explanation be clearer, the researcher will give more analysis of the utterances below
4.2.1.1 Intra-sentential switching on word level
The investigation reveals a significant variation in the usage of type words for executing transcoding, with a notable percentage of 69.18% Supporting this finding, the study includes a statistical table that illustrates these results.
Number Type of word Frequency Percentage
Chart 2 Percentage of levels in the intra-sentential switching classification
Table 4 Frequency and percentage of type of words in intra-sentential switching
The analysis of Table 4 reveals that nouns are the most frequently used word category in the songs, with a total of 336 occurrences Verbs follow with 76 instances, while adjectives and adverbs have 42 and 20 instances, respectively Additionally, conjunctions appear 3 times, pronouns 11 times, and exclamations 8 times It is important to note that these figures represent only the words found in the songs, not the entirety of each word category.
To make it easier to be understood, the researcher also provides the data into chart
Chart 3 Percentage of type of words in intra-sentential switching
The data indicates that nouns dominate usage at 67.74%, with verbs at 15.32% and adjectives at 8.47% Adverbials account for 4.03%, while conjunctions, pronouns, and exclamations make up smaller portions at 0.6%, 2.21%, and 1.63%, respectively This highlights the significance of nouns in sentence structure.
1.63% switching, the use of English nouns to replace Vietnamese words occurs more often than other words
Next, the researcher will give examples and analysis to make the research more convincing
Baby cho anh biết những điều quyến luyến em vẫn còn lưu
Lên Bitexco shopping, xem movie
Ra phố đi bộ chụp vài tấm hình selfie
[Forever Love - Binz, LK, Yanbi]
2) (N1L1) Đừng gọi anh là idol, đừng gọi anh là idol
Underground này anh không đại diện
Và cứ để rapper khác để cho họ toại nguyện
Mainstream này không níu được chân anh
[Đừng gọi anh là idol – Đen Vâu]
Với anh em trong cảnh khó và ôm mơ làm rapper
[VIỆT NAM - 95G ft Wowy, Suboi]
Huh nghe nói là rapper mất dần
[noun] Đâu phải là underground thế có chết không
In the excerpts, the English nouns "baby," "shopping," "movie," "selfie," "rapper," "idol," "mainstream," and "underground" are prominently featured in the lyrics These common nouns carry specific connotations that are challenging to translate into Vietnamese, particularly within the context of rap music The use of English not only meets the structural and grammatical requirements of the lyrics but also occurs at various positions within the sentences, demonstrating a word-level shift in language.
[Dân chơi xóm - JustaTee, RPT MCK]
Bà thấy con, trên TV, bà happy
[Tèn tèn girls – Tlinh, Suboi]
Tôi nghĩ rằng tôi đang khá sad, Sadiman Yo đêm nay Sadiman phải high yo?
[Cô ta – Lil Shady, Kyo]
In excerpts (5), (6), and (7), adjectives such as "fresh," "happy," "sad," and "high" are strategically placed at the beginning, middle, and end of sentences This demonstrates a seamless transcoding process from Vietnamese to English, where replacements occur fluidly within the sentences without interruptions.
Hãy cố là người chơi giỏi, vì cuộc đời này không nơi đâu có nút back lại
Respect không phân biệt bất cứ ai
[Chú chó trên ô tô – Tlinh]
Battle để so trình thì trình tôi là trình tôm
In excerpts (8), (9), and (10), the verbs "back," "respect," and "battle" are positioned around Vietnamese words, indicating that the transcoding into English occurs at various points within the sentence This pattern exemplifies intra-sentential code-switching.
In addition, other types of words are also used with less frequency
Bởi vì em so đẹp
[Vì em so đẹp – Thành Draw]
I said, "Homie, xin đừng tin her, xin đừng cưới cô ta từ Tinder"
13) (N69L26) Đừng hỏi tại sao sao sao because
And mấy đứa mấy đứa mấy đứa đừng làm trò what
Conjunctions, adverbs, pronouns, and exclamation points play a crucial role in enhancing emotional expression in Vietnamese songs Although these words are infrequent and constitute a small percentage of the overall vocabulary, their usage significantly increases the appeal of the lyrics Notably, terms such as "so," "because," "what," "and," and "her" are strategically placed at the beginning, middle, or end of phrases, contributing to the fluidity and coherence of the song's message.
(13), (14) Switching takes place at the word level
4.2.1.2 Intra-sentential switching on phrase level
The researcher found that the phrase is commonly used in intra-sentential switching, accounting for 26.35% of occurrences Consequently, the researcher further investigates the data to identify the types of phrases being utilized.
Number Type of phrase Frequency Percentage
Table 5 Frequency and percentage of type of phrases in intra-sentential switching
The analysis presented in Table 5 reveals that phrasal verbs are the most frequently used, with 90 occurrences, followed by noun phrases at 49 instances and adjective phrases at 31 In contrast, prepositional phrases are used infrequently, appearing only 19 times, while adverbial phrases are absent from the data.
To make it easier to be understood, the researcher also provides the data into chart
Chart 4 Percentage of type of phrases in Intra-sentential switching
The analysis reveals that phrasal verbs dominate the phrase types, comprising 47.61% of the total, while noun phrases follow closely at 41.92% Adjective phrases and prepositional phrases are less prevalent, making up only 0.4% and 10.07%, respectively Notably, adverbial phrases are absent in intra-sentential switching within the selected songs This indicates that phrasal verbs significantly contribute to the analysis of intra-sentential switching at the phrase level.
Next, some illustrative examples are given by the researcher below
Falling in love theo cách bộp chộp
Noun phrase Verb phrase Adjective phrase Prepositional phrase Adverbial phrase
[Mưa trên những mái tôn – Đen Vâu]
Burn the stage, xong anh em chơi banh như dân chuyên
[Giàu vì bạn sang vì vợ - MCK]
17) (N73L18-19) Đêm nay đi đâu để bên em thật lâu này feeling my soul
[Gu của anh là châu Á – Yuno
Phrasal verbs such as “falling in love”, “burn the stage” and “feeling my soul” are utilized at the beginning or end of Vietnamese sentences in excerps (15),
Transcoding occurs without interruptions, aligning with the theory of intra-sentential switching This process operates at the phraseological level, utilizing phrasal verbs for effective transcoding.
Vì cuộc sống của tao gắn liền moneу and bitch, đời là bể dâu
Vậу đâu là color of life?
[Color of life – Lil Shady]
In extract (18), English phrases like "money and bitch" and "color of life" are seamlessly integrated into Vietnamese lines, appearing mid-sentence or at the end This transcoding occurs smoothly and without hesitation, demonstrating that these noun phrases can be inserted without grammatical errors The focus of the shift is at the phrase level.
4.2.1.3 Intra-sentential switching on sentence level
The purpose of using code-switching
The researcher provides a summary and justification for the use of code-switching, supported by data related to various forms and language features These insights may explain why many artists incorporate code-switching in their songs.
The use of exclamatory phrases or sentences enhances the expressiveness of the lyrics To further understand this point of view, consider the following examples:
Bởi vì nếu không là 1 đôi thì vô lý
Yeh baby anh yêu em nhiều lắm
Anh không reply em cũng có tí âu lo yeah
[Va vào giai điệu này – MCK]
Exclamation words such as "wow," "yeah," and "oh no" convey emotions like surprise, excitement, and joy The incorporation of English terms into Vietnamese songs enhances their dynamism and appeal to listeners Tag switching serves not only to express feelings of shock and attraction but also to beautify the song and maintain its rhythm and sound.
Replacing Vietnamese words with English terms can effectively convey certain crude notions This approach preserves the rhythm of the lyrics while enhancing the music's respect for the audience Here are some examples to illustrate this point.
Vì cuộc sống của tao gắn liền moneу and bitch, đời là bể dâu
[Color of life – Lil Shady]
[RAP CHO – SMO, Lil Wuyn]
Thằng bạn em tức vì anh đang fuck con nhỏ nó crush
"Popo like shit, mother fucker"
English terms such as "bitch," "fuck," and "shit" typically convey a negative and vulgar tone However, when these words are incorporated into Vietnamese rap songs, their negative connotations are diminished, allowing artists to effectively communicate their messages without being overly impacted by the harshness of the language.
In reality, some English terms are significantly shorter and easier to understand than Vietnamese words The researcher provides the following examples:
Em ko phải là crush, em không phai là thứ gì khó cai
Nhìn anh lúc nào cũng fresh
Em không phải mang makeup từ sáng đến tối
Anh là king em là queen
In contemporary Vietnamese music, many terms and phrases are increasingly being substituted with English equivalents, reflecting a trend among singers to simplify language For instance, the word "crush" is used in place of "người thầm thích," while "fresh" replaces "tươi mới," and "makeup" is employed directly from English.
“trang điểm”, “king” for “vua”, “queen” for “nữ hoàng The vocalists switched to English because English words had fewer syllables than Vietnamese words
The researcher asserts that transitioning from Vietnamese to English significantly influences the melody and rhythm of the song This alternating use of languages captivates listeners and adds distinctive elements to the tune.
Conclusion
Summary of research findings
Research question 1: What are the types of code-switching used in rap songs in Vietnam?
An analysis of 100 rap songs revealed a total of 1,152 instances of code-switching, with intra-sentential switching being the most prevalent at 62.23% (717 instances) Inter-sentential switching followed with 33.33% (384 instances), while tag switching accounted for 4.44% with 51 instances All three types of code-switching are present in the songs; however, situational and metaphorical code-switching are not utilized, as the nature of code-switching in conversation differs from that in song lyrics, as discussed in Chapter 2.
Research question 2: How are linguistic features expressed in English lyrics?
The analysis of linguistic aspects reveals multiple levels of code-switching, with 496 examples (69.18 percent) occurring at the word level, 189 instances at the phrase level, and 29 instances at the sentence level A detailed word-level analysis shows that nouns are the most frequently used words, accounting for 336 instances Additionally, various terms, including verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns, are also present The study identifies different types of phrases, such as noun phrases, adjective phrases, and verb phrases, while simple sentences with a declarative function are the most prevalent at the sentence level.
Research question 3: What are the reasons leading to the use of code-switching in rap songs in Vietnam?
The researcher identified the motivations behind code-switching in rap songs after analyzing the research findings As highlighted in Chapter 1, code-switching has emerged as a prominent trend within Vietnam's entertainment industry.
As a result, the study discovered that many artists employ English rather than Vietnamese for various purposes First, singers use exclamation words like "wow,"
Artists often use expressions like "yeh" and "yes" to enhance the emotional depth of their music Additionally, code-switching allows them to incorporate terms with negative connotations while avoiding vulgarity To create more concise lyrics, English words are frequently substituted, resulting in melodies and rhythms that are smoother and more captivating for listeners.
Limitation of the study
The researcher notes that the study remains incomplete, highlighting a gap in the investigation of music listeners' attitudes towards code-switching, particularly among English learners Despite existing research on the properties of code-switching in music, there has been little focus on how this phenomenon affects English students' perceptions Consequently, the researcher anticipates that future studies will explore this topic further to understand the impact of code-switching on English learners and their resulting opinions, whether positive or negative.
Conclusion
Recent research has revealed that code-switching in Vietnam is highly diverse and widely applicable It serves as a valuable tool for enhancing clarity and understanding of specific terms and jargon Additionally, in songwriting, code-switching allows artists to convey distinct values, beliefs, and emotions, enriching the lyrics and enabling listeners to connect more deeply with the music.
Finally, the researcher believes that this research will serve as a foundation for future research on the peculiarities of code-switching in rap songs
Alcnauerová, Z (2013) Code-switching and Code-mixing as Persuasive Strategies in Advertising Masaryk University Faculty of Arts Department of English and American Studies
Babalola, E & Taiwo, R (2009) Code-switching in contemporary Nigerian hip- hop music Itupale Online Journal of African Studies, 1, 1.26
Bao , T.D (2011) Vay mượn, chuyển di, chuyển mã, hòa mã và thích ứng thực tiễn tiếp ngôn tiếng Việt ở châu Úc http://lib.ussh.vnu.edu.vn/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2712/1/65.pdf
Bokamba E (1989) Are there Syntactic Constraints on Code-mixing? World Englishes 8(3)
Cuc, T.T (2015) Patterns of Code-Mixing of English in Hoa Hoc Tro Magazine in Vietnam v 31, n 4 ISSN 2525-2445
Coulmas, Florian (1997) The Handbook of Sociolinguitics Cambridge Massachusets USA: Blackwell Publisher inc
Creswell, J W (2012) Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson
Daoh, Norma (2016) An Analysis of Code-switching in the Lyrics of Bird Thongchai Mcintrye’ songs.Thesis Universitas Islam Negri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang
Eyato, R.G (2018) Types of codes switching in EFL classroom Journal al-Lisan
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973 https://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al
Gal, Susan (1988) The Political Economy of Code Choice In: Monica Heller (ed.) Codeswitching: Anthropological and Sociolinguistic Perspectives Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter 243–261
Gumperz JJ (1982) Discourse Strategies Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Hendar and Yunita, Tina Sesar (2012) explored the use of code-switching in the radio program "Shine After Lunch" aired on Ardan 105.9 FM in Bandung Their findings were presented at the National Language Seminar 2012, organized by the Faculty of Language at Widyatama University on May 9, 2012.
Huyen, N.T (2017) Hien tuong chuyen ma tieng Anh trong giao tiep tieng Viet, ĐH Quoc gia Ha Noi
Hymes, Dell (1974) Foundation in Sociolinguistics Philadelphia: The University
Jendra, (2010) Sociolinguistics: The Study of Societies’ Language Made Iwan Indrawan Yogyakarta: Graha Ilmu
Kebeya, H (2013) Inter- and Intra-Sentential Switching: Are they really Comparable?, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol 3
Mujiono et al (2013) Code-switching in English as Foreign Language Instruction Practiced by the English Lecturers at Universities International Journal of Linguistics Vol 5, No 2 ISSN 1948-5425
Nyman, K (2012) English influence on Japanese popular music: A case study of language contact Doctoral dissertation University of Eastern Finland
Poplack, S (1979) Sometimes I’ll Start a Sentence in Spanish Y TERMINO EN ESPANOL: Toward a Typology of Code-Switching CENTRO Working Papers 4
Romaine, Suzanne (1995) Bilingualism (2nd edition), Oxford: Blackwell
Safitri, I.D (2009) Code-switching in Indonesia pop songs Diploma thesis, Universitas Negeri Malang
Sari, H.P (2013) Code-Switching in the Daily Conversations of University Students in Semarang Diponegoro University, Semarang
Sappapan, P (2013) Study of English Code-mixing and Code-switching in Thai Pop Songs Thammasat University, Thailand
Sarkar, Mela and Lise Winer (2006) Multilingual Codeswitching in Quebec Rap: Poetry, Pragmatics and Performativity International Journal of Multilingualism 1479-0718/06/03 173-20 $20.00/0 Vol 3 No 3
Nghiên cứu của Thao, L.H (2012) tập trung vào hiện tượng chuyển mã giữa tiếng Việt và tiếng Anh trong giao tiếp của các giáo viên dạy tiếng Anh như một ngoại ngữ Bài viết phân tích một trường hợp cụ thể tại ĐH Quốc gia Hà Nội, nhằm làm rõ cách thức và lý do giáo viên sử dụng cả hai ngôn ngữ trong hội thoại Kết quả nghiên cứu cung cấp cái nhìn sâu sắc về sự giao thoa ngôn ngữ trong môi trường giáo dục.
Tuc, H.D (2013) Vietnamese-English Bilingualism: Patterns of Code-switching, London: RoutledgeCurzon
Wardaugh, Ronald (2006) An Introduction to Sociolinguistic (fifth edition) United Kingdom TJ Int00ernational ltd
Yusuf et al , Y.Q (2018) Types of Indonesian-English code-switching employed in a novel Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences p.1-6