Language use as audience design: The dichotomy of language choice in content-based classrooms in a Malaysian university / Kamisah Ariffin, Norzie Diana Baharum & Rahimah Abd Wahab

Ariffin, Kamisah and Baharum, Norzie Diana and Abu Wahab, Rahimah (2017) Language use as audience design: The dichotomy of language choice in content-based classrooms in a Malaysian university / Kamisah Ariffin, Norzie Diana Baharum & Rahimah Abd Wahab. Gading Journal For The Social Sciences, 20 (2). ISSN 2600-7568

Abstract

The language policy in UniversitiTeknologi MARA (UiTM) clearly stipulates that English should be used as the medium of instruction in all programmes taught (Surat PekelilingTNC[100-UiTM (TNC(A) 1/1, 7 May 2003). However, it has been observed that such language policy cannot oversimplify the complexities of the actual language use in the (at least) bilingual context of interaction in the classroom. This paper sets to present and discuss the extensive use of both BM and English in the formal classroom setting in Universiti Teknologi MARA despite the stipulated language policy. The data were represented by the discourse of content-based classroom sessions. The findings suggest language choice was highly governed by the social and psychological variables of the speakers. This paper, however, only focuses on speakers’ language choice and use as audience design in the context of interaction. Using Bell’s (1984; 2001) audience design model as a framework, the data indicate that the impact of the audience on the speakers’ speech style depends on how they ratify and accommodate the audience in terms of their norms of interaction, competence, linguistic awareness and accommodation of the audience’s needs. In addition, speakers’ style-shifting in response to topic(s) is also due to the association of topics with the audience. This study contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the sociolinguistic phenomena in real communication, by providing real examples from a situated discourse. The findings have shown that the regulation of the institutional language policy has oversimplified the complexities of the actual language use in a bilingual/multilingual context of interaction.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Creators:
Creators
Email / ID Num.
Ariffin, Kamisah
kamisah@pahang.uitm.edu.my
Baharum, Norzie Diana
norziediana@pahang.uitm.edu.my
Abu Wahab, Rahimah
rw6106@pahang.uitm.edu.my
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PE English language
P Language and Literature > PE English language > Study and teaching
P Language and Literature > PE English language > Study and teaching > Malaysia
Divisions: Universiti Teknologi MARA, Pahang > Jengka Campus
Journal or Publication Title: Gading Journal For The Social Sciences
UiTM Journal Collections: UiTM Journal > Gading Journal for the Social Sciences (GADINGSS)
ISSN: 2600-7568
Volume: 20
Number: 2
Keywords: audience design, language choice, language use, classroom discourse
Date: December 2017
URI: https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/29222
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