EXPLORING CODE SWITCHING IN MALAYSIAN

POLITICAL BLOGS


BY


MOHD FADLI BIN ZAKARIA



A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement
for the degree of Master of Human Sciences
(English Language Studies)



Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge
and Human Sciences
International Islamic University
Malaysia



JULY 2011

ii
ABSTRACT




Code switching phenomenon has been present in multilingual societies (in this case;
Malaysia) where languages, dialects and different varieties of the same language are
used. Code switching has typically been attached with speaking. Conceptually, code
switch in writing will not be any different from code switching in speaking due to the
functions that both play. Furthermore, compared with other traditional media, the
Internet is where more instances of code switching and language mixing can be found
(Androutsopoulos, 2001). There are few detailed studies conducted on Bahasa
Melayu-English code switching as it specifically pertains to, and there are even less
studies conducted about Bahasa Melayu-English code switching in blogs. This study
seeks to investigate (i) the frequency of code switching types used in Malaysian
political blogs and (ii) the functions of code switching in Malaysian blogs. By
applying Muyskens (2000) theoretical framework on categories of code switching, (i)
insertion, (ii) alternation and (iii) congruent lexicalisation, data were compiled for this
research. Entries from 50 political blogs were compiled and every code switched-word
that occurred in the entries was tallied, labelled and calculated. The findings showed
that basically Malaysian political bloggers do not code switch frequently in their
writings. This may happen due to the theme they were writing; politics. The tone used
to write about political issues is usually formal and sharp, and code switch rarely
occurs in these formal settings.

iii






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.
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) 2001 .(


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. 50

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.

iv
APPROVAL PAGE




I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms
to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and
quality, as a dissertation for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English
Language Studies).


...............................................
Maimunah Abdul Kadir
Supervisor


I certify that I have read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms to acceptable
standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a
dissertation for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Language Studies).



..............................................
Zahariah Pilus
Examiner


This dissertation was submitted to the Department of English Language and Literature
and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human
Sciences (English Language Studies).


................................................
Zahariah Pilus
Head, Department of English
Language and Literature


This dissertation was submitted to the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and
Human Sciences and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of
Master of Human Sciences (English Language Studies).


..............................................
Badri Najib Zubir
Dean, Kulliyyah of Islamic
Revealed Knowledge and Human
Sciences
v
DECLARATION




I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except
where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently
submitted as a whole for any other degrees at IIUM or other institutions.

Mohd Fadli bin Zakaria.

Signature Date ..

vi





INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA


DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION
OF FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH


Copyright 2011 by Mohd Fadli bin Zakaria. All rights reserved.


EXPLORING CODE SWITCHING IN MALAYSIAN POLITICAL BLOGS

No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder except
as provided below.

1. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished
research may only be used by others in their writing with due
acknowledgement.

2. IIUM or its library will have the right to make and transmit copies
(print or electronic) for institutional and academic purposes.

3. The IIUM library will have the right to make, store in a retrieval
system and supply copies of this unpublished research if requested
by other universities and research libraries.


Affirmed by Mohd Fadli bin Zakaria.


.................................... ...................................
Signature Date

vii










Dedicated to


My dearly loved parents,

Zakaria Kasa and Asiah Saidin






















viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS




This dissertation would not have been possible without the guidance and help of
several individuals who in one way or another contributed to and extended their
valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study.
First and foremost, my utmost gratitude to Dr. Maimunah Abdul Kadir whose
sincerity and encouragement I will never forget. Dr. Maimunah has been my
inspiration as I overcome all the obstacles in the completion this research.
I am forever indebted to my parents Zakaria Kasa and Asiah Saidin for their
support, understanding, endless patience and encouragement when it was most
required. I would also like to express my gratitude to my dearest siblings, Mohd
Fadzlan and Khairunnisa for their love and emotional support.
I would like to thank Dr. Zahariah Pilus, Sr. Siti Nuraishah Ahmad, Sr. Eda
Baharom, Sr. Yau Sim Mei and everyone from Department of English Language and
Literature, Office of Postgraduate and Research, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed
Knowledge and Human Sciences, IIUM for their unselfish and unfailing support in
encouraging me to finish this study.
This thesis would have remained a dream had it not been for my friends:
Yamada Takayuki, Kangin, Lee Hongki, Yamada Ryosuke, Edison Koon-Hei Chen,
Ming Dao, Henry Lau, Galih Ginanjar, Hang Tuah, Yoo Seungho, Bambang Reguna
Bukit and many more for their endless encouragement.

I would like to express my gratitude to my Malis Shisha Association members
for all the inspiration and assistance: Awin, Fendey, Xul, Sapick, Sokat, Xane, Beni,
Memen, Lan, Leman, Johnny, Ummi, Kim, Hannah, Liyana, Haziq and many more.

Finally, I would like to express my humble gratitude to Almighty Allah for
guiding me to accomplish this dissertation. Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad,
His servant and messenger.






ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS




Abstract ................................................................................................................... ii
Abstract in Arabic .................................................................................................... iii
Approval Page .......................................................................................................... iv
Declaration Page ..................................................................................................... v
Copyright Page ..................................................................................................... vi
Dedication ...............................................................................................................vii
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. viii
List of Tables .......................................................................................................... x
List of Figures .......................................................................................................... xii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1
Background of Study .................................................................................... 1
Statement of the Problem ............................................................................. 5
Objectives of the Research ........................................................................... 6
Research Questions ...................................................................................... 7
Significance of Study ................................................................................... 7
Organization of Thesis ................................................................................. 7

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................. 8
Code Switching ............................................................................................ 8
Internet and Language .................................................................................. 24

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................ 33
Introduction .................................................................................................. 33
Research Subjects ......................................................................................... 33
Research Tools ............................................................................................. 35
Research Design and Procedures ................................................................. 36

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF DATA .................................................................. 43
Introduction .................................................................................................. 43
Findings and Discussion .............................................................................. 53
Occurrences of Insertion .............................................................................. 52
Occurrences of Alternation .......................................................................... 57
Occurrences of Congruent Lexicalization .................................................... 62
Occurrences of Code Switching based on Languages ................................. 67

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION .............................................................................. 75

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 83

APPENDIX .............................................................................................................90


x
LIST OF TABLES




Table No. Page No.

2.1 Examples of Insertion 21

2.2 Examples of Alternation 22

2.3 Examples of Congruent Lexicalisation 23

3.1 List of Blogs and Entries 37

3.2 List of Blogs and Total Words 39

3.3 List of Blogs and the Occurrences of Code Switching according
to the Muysken Categories 41

4.1 List of Political Blogs 45

4.2 Table of Blogs, Number of Entries and Total Words 47

4.3 Table of Percentage of Total Switches against Total Words 50

4.4 Table of Percentage of Insertion, Alternation and Congruent
Lexicalisation against Total Words 50

4.5 Table of Percentage of Insertion, Alternation and Congruent
Lexicalisation against Total Switches 51

4.6 Table of Percentage of Insertion against Total Switches 53
4.7 Table of Occurrences of Insertion 54
4.8 Table of Percentage of Alternation against Total Switches 58
4.9 Table of Occurrences of Alternation 59
4.10 Table of Percentage of Congruent Lexicalisation against Total
Switches 63

4.11 Table of Occurrences of Congruent Lexicalisation 64

4.12 Distribution of Code Switches according to Languages 68

xi
4.13 Percentages of Code Switches according to Languages 69
4.14 Occurrences of Insertion, Alternation and Congruent
Lexicalisation based on Languages 71

4.15 Examples of Code Switching that Occurred in Bahasa
Melayu-based Sentences 73

4.16 Examples of Code Switching that Occurred in English-based
Sentences 74

































xii
LIST OF FIGURES




Figure No. Page No.


2.1 Example of Insertion 20

2.2 Example of Alternation 21

2.3 Example of Congruent Lexicalisation 23

1

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION



BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Communication is how we express ourselves and one of the ways of doing this is
through language. For those with a linguistic repertoire of more than one language, it
is common for them to display their linguistic ability either in spoken or written form
in a fusion of different languages, styles or even dialects. This phenomenon is termed
code switching. Code switching phenomenon has been present in multilingual
societies where languages, dialects and different varieties of the same language are
used.
Code switching is common in multilingual Asian countries such as the
Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia where English, Malay as well as other languages
are mixed in utterances. In Malaysia, it is common to hear a speaker using English
words even when much of the conversation is in Malay or when using the Malay
language in English dominated conversation. In other words, code switching is a
common phenomenon among Malaysians (David, 1997).
Code switching is a phenomenon that occurs in both formal and informal
settings (Kow, 2003; David, 2003; Morais, 1998; Zentella, 1997; Sridhar, 1996;
Belazi, 1992; Stevens, 1983; Corder, 1981; Pascasio, 1978). The common view is that
code switching only takes place in informal settings where interlocutors are most
comfortable with other interactants but more recent studies reveal that code switching
also occurs in formal settings such as in departmental meetings (Jariah, 2003) and
even courtrooms (David, 2003). Code switching has typically been attached with
2

speaking. However, individuals who perform code switching can easily engage in
both speaking as well as writing.
Conceptually, code switching in writing will not be any different from code
switching in speaking due to the functions that both do. When we use multiple
languages simultaneously, we also learn to compartmentalize them so that we will use
the appropriate language with the different people we use them with. That is why a
bilingual would use his mothers native language to her and his fathers native
language to him in speaking as well as in writing notes or greeting cards, etc. As
native speakers of a language, we do the same thing with different levels of formality.
We know what is appropriate to write in a personal email as well as what is
appropriate in an academic dissertation. In this way, we learn that different styles
require different codes.
Other types of writing and speaking have always been taught more directly;
texts like business letters, poetry and research papers each has their own correct
format that must be followed. And as time passes by, technology has caused
communication to change its ways, Internet usage has increased while text messaging
has become one of the most influential methods to communicate, either in formal or
informal settings.
Technology has affected human-to-human communication skills. It has
brought out an innovative change in the way we communicate with each other. As we
progress through the era, a lot of technological devices such as the television, hand-
phones, and personal computers have come and occupied our lives. This has definitely
influenced the way of communicating in many ways such as the usage of emails,
instant messenger (such as Yahoo Messenger, Blackberry Messenger etc.), online
social networking (Facebook, Myspace), public journals and so on. With the invention
3

of the Internet, the world has effectively become an interconnected global village.
People from all corners of the world are able to easily and quickly converse with each
other through the Internet.
Internet has become one of the most important means of communication.
Computer-mediated discourse was once regarded as a lean (Daft & Lengel, 1984)
and impoverished medium and was thus considered unsuitable for social interaction
(Baron, 1984). However, subsequent researches expose a situation quite different from
this earlier assessment. People adapt the medium of the computer to their immediate
needs (Herring, 2001), and this results in a new type of language which contains
features of speech and writing as well as some electronically mediated properties
(Crystal, 2001). Furthermore, compared with other traditional media, the Internet is
where more instances of code switching and language mixing can be found
(Androutsopoulos, 2001).
Online public journal or popularly known as weblogs, which are websites
containing current and archived personal commentary on various topics displayed in
reverse chronological order, have been particularly debatable. Bloggers, because of
their typically unorthodox views, have earned the attention of almost everyone, from a
housewife who wants to sell cookies, to top politicians who wish to content their
arguments.
In 2007, a Malaysian government official described bloggers as "karaoke
singers who take pleasure in their own singing but have no influence although they
claimed to have received millions of hits" (Bernama, 2007). While blogs continue to
be dominated by developed countries, the case of Malaysia demonstrates how this
technology is being used in emerging democracies, especially by those who are not
already in power.
4

Most surveys imply that a huge portion of the total blog population is
inhabited by teenagers and the split between genders is moderately close.
Interestingly, 52% of all blogs are developed, maintained and therefore dominated by
youths, particularly by teenagers, while, 56% of the total bloggers are females and
44% are males (Henning, 2003). In Malaysia, bloggers are quite young (84.5% of
bloggers are aged 28 and below), and they are keen readers of blogs, printed
newspapers and fiction-stories (Tan, 2008). With such keen readers and users of
blogs, how have blogs affected the type of bilingual settings in this country? This
paper analyzes bilingual blogs in an attempt to understand this situation and takes a
further step in the less investigated area of Bahasa Melayu-English written code
switching. Despite the relative novelty of this mode of communication among
bilinguals and monolinguals alike, research on code switching between Bahasa
Melayu and English usage on the Internet is quite scarce to date.
There are two main reasons why this particular linguistic phenomenon in the
context of blogging is chosen as the subject of study. There are few detailed studies
conducted on Bahasa Melayu-English code switching as it specifically pertains to, and
there are even less studies conducted on Bahasa Melayu-English code switching in
blogs. It is hoped that this study will serve to fill this research gap. As the language on
the Internet is sensitive to a range of technical and situational factors (Herring, 2001),
and given that blogging provides an informal environment for users to construct a
mixture genre of speech and writing, it is interesting to see the distinctive occurrence
and motivations for code switching in such setting.



5

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There are so many uncontrolled blog-writers out there and they are beginning to
present a specific pattern in code switching depending on the theme they are writing,
which is an interesting fact to be studied. It is interesting that bloggers often reveal
their real names, along with other personal information such as age or location. In a
virtual world, where identity is flexible, why would bloggers choose to present
themselves as they do in non-virtual worlds? Perhaps there is the need to reveal who
they are in order to reveal thoughts and feelings without hiding? Perhaps there is a
sense of empowerment with this action? On the other hand, if the content of a blog is
personal, candid, or intimate, may a certain sense of anonymity make authors feel
more comfortable in being explicit.
When blog-writers switch or mix two languages, there might be motivation
and reasons for code switching and Grosjean (1982) suggests some reasons for code
switching. For example, some bilinguals switch between two languages when they
cannot find proper words or expressions or when there is no appropriate translation for
the language being used. Also, their interlocutors, situations, messages, attitudes, and
emotions generate the switch. According to Grosjean (1982), code switching can also
be used for many other reasons, such as quoting what someone has said (and thereby
emphasizing ones group identity), specifying the addressee (switching to the usual
language of a particular person in a group will show that one is addressing that
person), qualifying that has been said, or talking about past events. On the basis of a
number of factors such as with whom (participants such as their backgrounds and
relationships), about what (topic, content), and when and where a speech act occurs,
bilinguals make their language choice evident (Bhatia & Ritchie, 2004).
6

Conceptually, the Internet-world is related to informal setting where users are
likely to use informal speech. However, in writing blogs, there are practically issues
that are formal such as academics and politics, and informal such as recipes and tips
for gardening. Code switching is popularly expected to be used in informal setting
while speaking, and to be less used in formal setting. It would be interesting to see if
code switching happens in the Internet as well.

OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
The primary purpose of this study is to examine and relate how individuals selectively
choose their words specifically to code switch in writing their ideas in their blogs.
Observation will be made whether bilingual individuals would freely switch languages
when writing in a public journal. The underlying hypothesis is that their writings will
display social functions similar to those found in oral code switching research. This
study seeks to investigate (i) the frequency of code switching types; insertion,
alternation and congruent lexicalisation used in Malaysian political blogs and (ii) the
functions of code switching in Malaysian blogs by use of insertions, alternations and
congruent lexicalisations as these blogs have been noted as offering an unprecedented
opportunity for self-expression (Blood, 2000).
This study aims to determine the existence and occurrence of code switching
in blogs that discuss political issues and to determine the reasons as to why bloggers
code switch. Based on Muyskens (2000) code switching types which consist of
insertion, alternation and congruent lexicalisation, this paper will analyse the purposes
fulfilled in the blogs written texts. In short, this study focuses on the use of code
switching as a communicative strategy (Corder, 1981), in blogs written by Malaysian
bloggers.
7

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How frequent are code switching types; insertion, alternation and congruent
lexicalisation used in Malaysian political blogs?
2. What functions are fulfilled in Malaysian blogs by the use of insertions,
alternations and congruent lexicalisations?

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
No study has investigated the occurrence and function of code switching in written
form specifically in blog writing in Malaysia. Hence, it is important to understand
why code switching occurs in these blogs as such knowledge could lead to a better
understanding of why multilinguals/bilinguals in Malaysia use different codes to
express their views.

ORGANIZATION OF THESIS


The content of the study will be organized in five chapters. Chapter 1 serves as an
introduction to the topic at hand, the statement of the problem, the research objectives
and questions and the significance of the study. Chapter 2 contains a broad literature
review of code switching and issues related to blog-writing. Chapter 3 contains the
research methodology used to examine each of the research questions while Chapter 4
discusses the results of these questions. Finally, Chapter 5 offers the limitations and
managerial implications of the findings. Directions for future research are also
provided.


8

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW



CODE SWITCHING

According to Bell (1976: 110), code switching allows its user to be seen as a chooser
amongst codes whether the codes are styles, dialects or what are normally thought of
as autonomous languages since any or all of these can be involved in the code
switching behaviour of the language user. Code switching is defined as the use of two
different languages or forms of the same language in the same conversation (Ervin-
Tripp, 1973; Myers-Scotton, 1993). Hudson (1980: 56) defines code switching as a
strategy in which a speaker uses different varieties at different times. Two types of
code switching are referred to in the literature: situational and metaphorical. Blom and
Gumperz (1972: 424, 425) explain there are two types of code switching, namely
metaphorical switching, which takes place with a change of topic, and situational
switching, in which speakers switch languages due to a change in their perceptions of
one anothers rights and obligations.
However, Fishman's (1972: 42) definitions of situational and metaphorical
code switching slightly differ. For him, situational code switching is involved when
speakers switch codes according to the setting, topic, interlocutor, or purpose with
which it is usually associated, while metaphorical code switching occurs when a
particular variety is used for the setting, topic, interlocutor, or purpose, with which it
is not normally associated.
Di Pietro (1977: 3) defines code switching as the use of more than one
language by communicants in the execution of a speech act. Code switching is also
defined as the alternation of two languages within a single discourse, sentence, or
9

constituent. Inter-sentential alternations occur when the switch is made across
sentence boundaries while intra-sentential switching happens in a word or phrase
within the same sentence (Grosjean, 1982; Torres, 1989).
Poplack (1980: 583) states that code switching is the alternation of two
languages within a single discourse, sentence or constituent. According to Clyne
(2000: 242), code switching is the alternative use of two languages either within a
sentence or between sentences. Also, this contrasts with transference, where a single
item is transferred from language B to language A (or vice versa), whether integrated
into the grammatical and / or phonological system of the recipient language or not
(Clyne, 2000: 242).
Grosjean (1982) mentions there might be motivations and reasons for code
switching when language users switch between languages. For example, some
language users switch between two languages when they cannot find appropriate
words or expressions or when there is no proper translation for the language being
used. According to Grosjean (1982), code switching can also be used for many other
reasons, such as quoting what someone has said to emphasize ones group identity and
specifying the addressee; by switching to the usual language of the other person it will
show that one is addressing that person. Bilinguals make their language choice based
on several factors such as with which participants (their backgrounds and
relationships), about which (topic, content), and when and where a speech act occurs
(Bhatia & Ritchie, 2004).
It is expected that people regularly switch their languages in bilingual and / or
multilingual societies. However, in monolingual societies, this phenomenon is usually
viewed as unnatural. Grosjean (1982) strongly emphasises that in bilingual and / or
multilingual communities, it is very common for speakers to code switch. With regard
10

to the reasons of code switch, users usually clarify that the reason why they code
switch is that they lack facility in one language when talking about a certain topic. The
users state that they switch when they fail to find appropriate words or expressions or
when the language being used does not have the items or proper translations for the
vocabulary needed (Grosjean, 1982). Also, some remark that they usually code switch
when they are tired, lazy, or angry (Grosjean, 1982).
Grosjean (1982) mentions that code switching not only fills a temporary
linguistic need but it is also a very functional type of communication resource and
code switching is often used as a communicative strategy to convey linguistic and
social information. Gutierrez-Clellen (1999) claims cases of code switching should
not be categorized as lack of language skill ability. Bilinguals and multilinguals may
code switch between speeches depending on several different factors such as
sociolinguistics, pragmatics, etc. The occurrences of code switching are not
automatically due to lack of language proficiency.
Code switching is neither meaningless nor random as it has its role, a purpose,
facets and characteristics (Greene & Walker, 2004). It is a sign of the language users
awareness of alternative communicative principle. The fundamental reason why
people switch their languages is not because they lack language ability but because
they try to make their utterances to be more easily understandable and meaningful.
It is necessary to observe more specific reasons about these code switching
phenomena. There are some other factors which affect code switching such as
grammatical, lexical, and societal factors. Among these factors, societal factors would
be the most influential determinants for the reasons why language users switch their
languages. Fishman (2000) discovers that the preference of language among bilingual
speakers is determined by factors which are outside the users control such as
11

participants, situation, or topic. In certain conditions people will use one language, and
if the circumstances change, it may lead them to switch to other languages.
Auer (1998) mentions that one of the reasons why people code switch is
because of macro-sociolinguistic paradigm. It focuses on the influence on language
use exerted by the general sociolinguistic context. In addition, according to Wei
(2005), researches and studies on code switching have taken an ideological turn.
Theories such as power, authority, prestige, and gender are all brought up in
explaining why and how people switch from one language to another. As many
researchers have stated, code switching is reasonably influenced by societal factors.
Societal factors are labelled to be the most influential factors which generate
the occurrences of code switching in peoples utterances. Romaine (1995) states that
speakers may code switch for a variety of reasons, where they may switch two
languages back and forth in order to differentiate the communication as appropriate to
a different social arena. On the other hand, they switch to avoid, through continual
code switching, defining the interactions in terms of any social situation. The latter
function of avoidance is an important one because it recognizes that code switching
often serves as a strategy of neutrality or as a means to explore which code is most
appropriate and acceptable in a certain situation, such as formal and informal.
As mentioned by Romaine (1995), a societal factor is a very important factor
to explain the reasons for code switching existence. It is not too much to say that
situational factors are the most realistic and believable reasons for code switching to
occur. Blanc and Hamers (2000) state there are several situational factors that may
manipulate the type and frequency of code switching. The factors are the topics
discussed, the participants involved, the settings, and so on. Gumperz (1982) mentions
12

code switching is typical of the communicative conventions of closed network
situations because of its reliance on universalized shared understanding.
Blom and Gumperz (2000) state that the concept of situational code switching
assumes a straight link between the languages and the social situations, where the
relationship between the languages and the social situations is expected and inevitable.
It is important for language users to learn communication strategies in order to have a
smooth relationship with each different society by using the appropriate choice of
languages. For example, children generally develop strategies for dealing with
bilingual situations such as learning how to adapt their language to the situation to the
extent of playing the role of interpreters between monolingual speakers of different
languages (Swain, 1972).
Blanc and Hamers (2000) state that it should be pointed out that a bilinguals
communication strategies differ within an interactional situation and therefore a code
that is most favourable at one point may cease to be so later as a result of changes in
the situation, the topic, role relations, etc. There are some situational factors related to
society such as interlocutors, physical setting, other social variables like social status,
race, age, etc., which affect peoples utterances considerably.
Firstly, participants and social groups are one of the situational factors which
causes code switch to take place where bilinguals may speak differently depending on
whom and which groups they are talking to. For example, if a Malay-English bilingual
talks to a Malay man, he probably starts talking in Bahasa Melayu. However, if he
talks to people from one of the English speaking countries, he would speak to them in
English but he may not be able to switch to Bahasa Melayu as those people might not
know Bahasa Melayu.