Code-switching between Croatian and English in Relation to Perceived Word Emotionality: The Case of Croatian EFL Learners

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Prebacivanje jezičnih kodova između hrvatskog i engleskog jezika u odnosu na percipiranu emocionalnost izraza: učenici engleskog jezika u Hrvatskoj
• Author: Nika Hrašovec
• Mentor: Stela Letica Krevelj (mentor)
• Committee member: Renata Geld (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Jasenka Čengić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Stela Letica Krevelj (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-05-17, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

Code-switching is a multi-layered phenomenon which can be studied from various perspectives. In the view of the ever-growing influence of the English language on the Croatian language and Croatian society, especially younger generations, this study was
focused on the connection between code-switching and perceived word emotionality in Croatian EFL students. The aim of this study was to examine Croatian teenagers’ code-switching habits in relation to perceived emotionality of English and Croatian expressions. A two-part half-structured interview was used as the research instrument in the study. For the purpose of this study, 33 individual interviews were conducted with third and fourth grade students of various secondary schools, i.e. art schools, vocational schools and grammar schools in Zagreb and Zaprešić. The results of the study showed that Croatian teenagers’ code-switching habits were connected to perceived word emotionality. It was shown that emotional expressions, such as expressions of love and swear words, were perceived as more emotional in Croatian than in English. However, it was also shown that the students’ code-switching choices were often based on the preference for a certain expression and its habitual use rather than on the perceived emotionality of the expression itself. In addition, it was shown that Croatian EFL students were truly immersed in the English language to which they code-switch every day and in which they often think, which carries important implications for future EFL teaching in the Republic of Croatia.

Abstract (croatian)

Prebacivanje jezičnih kodova višeslojni je fenomen koji se može proučavati iz raznih perspektiva. S obzirom na nikad veći utjecaj engleskog jezika na hrvatski jezik i hrvatsko društvo, posebice mlađe generacije, u fokusu ovog istraživanja bila je veza između prebacivanja jezičnih kodova i percipirane emocionalnosti izraza u slučaju hrvatskih učenika engleskog jezika. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati navike prebacivanja jezičnih kodova hrvatskih tinejdžera u odnosu na percipiranu emocionalnost engleskih i hrvatskih izraza. Kao instrument u istraživanju korišten je polustrukturirani intervju koji se sastoji od dva dijela. Za potrebe ovog istraživanja provedena su 33 individualna intervjua s učenicima trećih i četvrtih razreda srednje umjetničke škole, srednjih strukovnih škola te gimnazija na području Zagreba i Zaprešića. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da su navike prebacivanja jezičnih kodova hrvatskih tinejdžera povezane s percipiranom emocionalnošću izraza. Pokazalo se da su emocionalni izrazi poput izražavanja ljubavi i psovanja od strane učenika percipirani kao emocionalniji na hrvatskom negó na engleskom jeziku. No, isto tako se pokazalo da se učenički odabiri pri prebacivanju jezičnih kodova često temelje na popularnosti određenog izraza te na navici korištenja istoga, umjesto na percipiranoj emocionalnosti tog istog izraza. Uz to, istraživanje je pokazalo da su hrvatski učenici engleskog jezika doista uronjeni u
engleski jezik s obzirom na to da svakodnevno koriste engleske izraze te često na engleskom jeziku i razmišljaju, što ima važne implikacije za buduće oblikovanje teorije i prakse poučavanja engleskog jezika u Republici Hrvatskoj.

• Keywords: English language in Croatia; code-switching in Croatian teenagers; code-switching from Croatian to English; perceived word emotionality
• Keywords (croatian): engleski jezik u Hrvatskoj; prebacivanje jezičnih kodova hrvatskih tinejdžera; prebacivanje jezičnih kodova između hrvatskog i engleskog jezika; percipirana emocionalnost izraza
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:850111
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: TEFL; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to students and staff of home institution
• Created on: 2021-05-24 10:35:37