The Sociolinguistic Study of CodeSwitching Phenomenon on Narcos Television Show

Abstract

This study examined the sociolinguistic phenomenon of code-switching in the Narcos television show. The primary goal was to reveal the types of codeswitching employed and the factors that motivated those language shifts. The study used Poplack's (1980) code-switching classification and Holmes' (2013) codeswitching factor framework. This qualitative study analyzed 17 dialogues conducted by Agent Peña with other characters that contained instances of codeswitching, taken from the first two seasons of Narcos. It employed transcription and contextual analysis to determine the types of code-switching and the triggers of language switching by Agent Peña. The results showed that inter-sentential codeswitching was the most frequently used, followed by intra-sentential and tag codeswitching. The most significant factor affecting these language changes was the participant factor, followed by motivations related to function and topic. The typical pattern was that Agent Peña used Spanish strategically when talking to Colombians and English when talking to Americans. In these situations, code-switching was used to express emotions, assert authority, build solidarity, and comply with institutional norms. The results provided readers with valuable insights into how bilingual interactions were represented in institutional settings within the media context. However, this study had limitations, such as the focus on only one character and the fictional nature of the utterances. As a suggestion, future researchers could examine more than one non-fictional subject to provide a broader picture of codeswitching in everyday conversation.