Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 509

4th International Conference on Language, Literature, Culture, and Education (ICOLLITE 2020)

An Analysis of Code Switching and Code Mixing in

The Film “Tokyo Fiancée” by Stefan Liberski
Dimas Miftah Arrizki*, Yuliarti Mutiarsih, Iis Sopiawati
Department of French Language Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
*
Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Code switching and code mixing as the phenomena in the field of sociolinguistics are commonly found both orally and
in the written form, especially in the multilingual film such as Tokyo Fiancée. This paper aims to: (1) analyse and
describe the code switching and code mixing in the film Tokyo Fiancée by Stefan Liberski; (2) analyse and describe the
types of utterances code switching and code mixing in the film Tokyo Fiancée by Stefan Liberski; (3) identify the
influential factors of code switching and code mixing in the film. Descriptive qualitative was employed as a research
design of this study with data cards as the research instruments adapted from the theories of Poplack (1980), Muysken
(2000), Suwito (1983, 1985) and Eunhee (2006). The findings of this study revealed that the movie used three languages
in oral speech such as Japanese, French, and English. Among those oral speeches, there were 69 utterances containing
code switching that is included in three types, namely tag-switching, inter-sentential switching and intra-sentential
switching. Then, these 39 utterances covered code mixing that is included in five types, namely insertion code mixing,
alternation code mixing, congruent lexicalization code mixing, inner code mixing and outer code mixing. The results of
this study may act as an alternative reference related to teaching materials, particularly in sociolinguistic course
discussing about code switching and code mixing.

Keywords: Code mixing, code switching, sociolinguistic, Tokyo Fiancée

1. INTRODUCTION French, English, and Japanese languages that used by the

actors which is showing up the possibility of code
The concept of multilingualism offers more benefits switching and code mixing in the conversations spoken
to an individual in the face of globalization, such as by the actors. Apart from that, another reason the
allowing a person to communicate digitally, pursuing a attraction of this film is the striking cultural differences
global career, and having a business, political, social, and between Europe and Asia, especially for Japan because
cultural competencies to broaden their horizon in a it’s not a francophone country which is used French as
variety of fields (Handayani, 2016). Despite of the lingua franca.
advantages provided in the multilingualism concept,
some facts showed that the majority of people still 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
encounter some problems such as language shifts,
interference and loss, as seen in the case of Celtic Code-switching according to Auer (as cited in
language, and Mapia language of West Papua (Pratiwi, Mabule, 2015, p. 340) is defined as:
2006). In term of social aspect, some multilingual
“Code switching as the alternating use of two or more
speakers tend to use code-switching by changing the use
codes within one conversational episode. In this case,
of code (a language or a variety of language) into another
‘codes’ refer to distinct language varieties or dialect.
code and code-mixing through combining two or more
Although code switching is a common linguistic outcome
language codes with no specific reasons and in informal
in situations of language contact, prevailing ideologies of
contexts (Sudrama & Yadnya, 2015).
linguistic purity discredit the practice in most bilingual
From previous research, the researchers used novels communities. It is considered a chaotic practice and it is
and the people in tourism industry environment as their seen by other research linguists as a sign of lack of
research objects, while in this study, the researcher used mastery of either or both languages”.
film as object of the study. On the other hand, there are

Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license -http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. 190
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 509

There are three types of code-switching as formulated In addition, Nababan (as cited in Rinawati et al.,
by Poplack (1980), they are: 2020) supported that “code mixing could occur because
the speaker of a particular language does not find the
1. Tag-switching
suitable terms that can be used in that certain language.
It is simply the insertion of a tag in one language in Therefore, in informal situation, it often occurs specially
an utterance to the other languages, and it can be inserted to express or make meaning in another language”.
in many different places in an utterance without changing
To be more specific, Muysken (as cited in Manihuruk
or disturbing the syntactic order, purpose and meaning of
& Hutabarat, 2019) divided code-mixing into three types,
the utterance.
namely:
2. Inter-sentential switching
1. Insertion Code Mixing
It is described as the switch between sentence
Insertion occurs when lexical items from one
boundaries, where one sentence is in one language and
language are incorporated into another. Insertion is the
the other in another. Therefore, speakers performing this
constraint in the terms of structural properties of some
kind of switching are usually fairly proficient in the
base or matrix structure. The process of code mixing is
participating languages.
conceived as something skin to borrowing at the insertion
3. Intra-sentential switching of an alien lexical or phrasal category into a given
structure. The difference is simply the size and type of
It refers to the switching that occurs inside the same
element inserted– noun, adjective, verb, and the like as
clause or sentence which is contains elements of both
can be seen below:
languages, and it’s used by bilinguals with high levels of
fluency in related languages. “Jangan suka nge-judge gitu dong, orang kan beda-
beda" (The word “judge” is an English word that is put
Suwito (as cited in Qonaatun, 2018) further explained
into Indonesian speech).
some factors affecting code-switching as follows:
2. Alternation Code Mixing
1. Speakers
“Alternation is likely found when structures of two
A speaker sometimes deliberately switches the code
languages are alternated indistinctively. Alternation is
on the hearer as a destination. For example, change the
the constraint of mixing in terms of compatibility or
situation of the official becoming unofficial or otherwise.
equivalence of the languages involved at the mix point,
2. Interlocutor and clause”. An example can be seen in the following
conversation:
The partner that has same linguistic background with
speakers; usually in the form of a code switch over the Teacher: What’s your activities at home?
variant and when hearer different linguistic backgrounds
Ratna: Activities, e… Saya sekarang kan kost, Pak. Di
tend switch in the form of code interpreter.
sana gak comfort gitu. No time for study, soalnya pulang
3. The Presence of the Third Speakers sekolah gak bisa istirahat. Banyak kerjaan. Mau tiduran
aja ga bisa. Segen sama yang punya rumah.
To neutralize the situation and respect the presence
hearer; third, usually the speaker and hearer switch codes, Teacher: Everyday?
especially if they are different linguistic backgrounds.
Ratna: Iya, every day. Malemnya when I sleepy ya ga
4. The topic bisa belajar. Planning-nya sih mau pindah gitu. Mungkin
next month, sir”.
The principal topic of conversation or a dominant
factor in determining the transfer code. The topic is 3. Congruent Lexicalization Code Mixing
usually in formal expressed with the standard variety,
“Congruent Lexicalization refers to the situation
with serious and neutral style and the informal topic non-
where two languages share grammatical structures,
standard delivered with the language, the style a little
which can be filled lexically with elements from either
emotional, and completely arbitrary.
language. The processes above happen inside a sentence.
5. To generate a sense of humour So, there is a changing in one sentence performed by
speaker”. For example:
Usually done with switching variants, rather wide,
or rather a way of speaking. Gee mi een kiss (in Dutch) becomes Give me a kiss.
6. For prestigious On the other side, Suwito (as cited in Octavita, 2016,
p. 71) elaborated the other two types of code-mixing,
Although the factors of situation from the partner,
such as:
topic, and the socio factors do not expect any code
switching, occurred.

191
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 509

1. Inner code mixing happens because of the insertion of 4. Cultural factors

language element of native or national language with
Cultural aspects here are beliefs, which are about who
its variation. Meanwhile, outer code mixing happens
or what are capable of speech and who or what may be
because of the insertion of the language element of
communicated with in the society and values, which
foreign language. Inner code mixing is a code mixing
mean the quality of being important or useful of
which occurs because of the insertion of language
something. The Indonesian-English code mixing by
element of a native or national language and its
certain people in the speech community viewed from
variation. It can also happen between local language
cultural side is considered valuable as it seems like a sign
or regional language. For example, a speaker can use
of genius.
some codes of Javanese in his Indonesian talk, but not
the whole structure of Javanese. An example of code-switching and code-mixing can
be seen in a film entitled Tokyo Fiancée. This film is a
2. Outer code mixing occurs because of the insertion of
romantic drama genre written in French and directed by
language element from foreign language and all of its
Stefan Liberski (2014), played by Pauline Étienne as
variation. Hence, there is mixture of native or national
Amélie (French) and Taichi Inoue as Rinri (Japanese). It
language with foreign language. For example, a
won three nominations at the 5th Magritte Award in
speaker can insert English element in his/her
Belgium. This film provides distinctive features by
Indonesian conversation.
providing three different languages such as French,
In line with this, Eunhee (as cited in Margaretta et al., Japanese, and English and allows code-switching and
2018) mentioned some influential factors of code- code-mixing spoken by the actors. Furthermore, this film
mixing, namely the individual factors, situational factors, is also another reason that is the main attraction of the
topical factors, and cultural factors. Each of these factors film is striking cultural differences between Europe and
are elaborated in the following: Asia, especially Japan which is not a French speaking
country.
1. The individual factors
Considering the explanation above, this paper
Here are related to individual preference and skill; as
presents a study focusing on an analysis of code-
every individual is different from one and another, the
switching and code-mixing in the film of Tokyo Fiancée
frequency of code mixing will also be very different.
by Stefan Liberski. It aims to analyze and describe the
2. Situational factors code switching and code mixing in the film Tokyo
Fiancée by Stefan Liberski, the types of utterances code
There are some aspects that appear in social factors
switching, and code mixing in the film and identify the
namely participants, topics and situation.
influential factors of code switching and code mixing in
a. Participants the film.
Participants are the people who are taking part in the
event. It can be either the speaker or the addressee. The 3. METHOD
speaker and the addressee for a role relationship which This study employed a qualitative descriptive method
can be marked by how the participants speak, body as research design aiming at collecting the data in the
position, non-verbal communication for example: eye field at the site where participants directly faced the
contact, gesture, etc. phenomena of code-switching and code-mixing
b. Situational condition (Creswell, J.W & Creswell, J.D., 2018).
Generally, there are two forms of situation, formal It involves a movie entitled Tokyo Fiancée by Stefan
and informal. People will always consider whether they Liberski which released in 2014 with 1 hour 37 minutes
are in formal or in informal situation when they speak. 32 second duration. The samples of this study were the
The language used in formal situation will be very utterances containing code-switching and code-mixing in
different from in informal situation. That’s why situation the film which were put in the following tables (Table 1)
is very important in the code mixing. and (Table 2).
3. Topics
Topics here are also the factors that influence the
writer or the speaker in doing code mixing. One of the
examples is when people who are talking about news in
Javanese suddenly mix their language with the
Indonesian language when they discuss about political
issues during the same conversation.

192
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 509

Table 1. Data card in analysing code-switching and its Table 3. Data analysis of third code switching
factors
Data number 3
Data number Minutes to... 04:55
Minutes to... Utterances Amélie: Hmm sorry but I didn’t
Utterances catch your name yesterday.
Types of code ☐ Tag-switching Rinri: Rinri.
switching ☐ Inter-sentential switching Amélie: Rinri… Ah d’accord.
☐ Intra-sentential switching Rinri. D’accord. Ok.
Types of code  Tag-switching
Causative ☐ Speaker
switching ☐ Inter-sentential switching
factors ☐ Interlocutor
☐ Intra-sentential switching
☐The Presence of the Third
Causative  Speaker
Speakers
factors ☐ Interlocutor
Topic: ☐ principal
☐The Presence of the Third
☐ formal/informal
Speakers
☐ To generate a sense of humour
Topic : ☐ principal
☐ For prestigious
☐ formal/informal
Table 2. Data card in analysing code-mixing and its ☐ To generate a sense of humor
contributing factors ☐ For prestigious
Data number The data in Table 3 above shows that there is code
Minutes to... switching included in the tag-switching type, because the
Utterances word “Ah d’accord” acts only as a filler in the blanks in
Types of code ☐ Insertion code-mixing a speech and if it is omitted, it does not change the
mixing ☐ Alternation code-mixing meaning and the contributing factor, namely speakers
☐ Congruent lexicalization who have bilingual skills.
☐ Outer code-mixing Table 4. Data analysis of fourth code switching
☐ Inner code-mixing
Data number 4
Causative ☐ Individual
Minutes to... 05:16
factors Situation : ☐ Participants
Utterances Amélie: I am from Belgium… Ah
☐ Formal/Informal non, c’est pas grave! Hmm, parlons
☐ Topic plutôt français! euu… dis-moi
☐ Culture quelque chose en français!
Types of ☐ Tag-switching
4. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION code  Inter-sentential switching
switching ☐ Intra-sentential switching
After analysing all the utterances in the dialogue
Causative  Speaker
among the actors in the film Tokyo Fiancée by Stefan
Liberski and grouping those into data cards that had been
factors ☐ Interlocutor
prepared previously the results of the first analysis found ☐The Presence of the Third
that there were three languages used by the main Speakers
character in the film, namely, French, Japanese and Topic :  principal
English. ☐ formal/informal
☐ To generate a sense of humor
The results of the second analysis relate to the
☐ For prestigious
phenomenon of code switching found in 69 utterances in
dialogue among the actors which can be grouped into The data in Table 4 above shows that there is code
types according to Poplack’s theory (1980), such as tag- switching is included in the inter-sentential switching
switching 38 times, inter-sentential switching 25 times type, because the sentence “Ah non, c’est pas grave!
and intra-sentential switching 6 times. For the causal Hmm, parlons plutôt français! euu...dis-moi quelque
factors according to Suwitos’s theory (1983), there are chose en français!” is the change of language code from
speaker 49 times, interlocutor 8 times, the Presence of the English to French. The contributing factor was the main
third speakers 5 times, principal topic 3 times, formal/ topic which required Rinri to speak French.
informal topic 3 times and once for humour. For clarity,
the results of this analysis are described in some of the
sample data shown in the following table (Table 3).

193
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 509

Table 5. Data analysis of sixth code switching For more details, the results of this analysis are described
in several sample data which are presented in the
Data number 6
following tables.
Minutes to... 07:10
Utterances Rinri: Sumimasen! Lundi, 10 The data in Table 6 above shows that there is code
possible? mixing that is included in the types of insertion and outer
Types of ☐ Tag-switching code mixing due to the inclusion of the word “Ah
code ☐ Inter-sentential switching d’accord” in French and the causative factor is
switching  Intra-sentential switching individual, namely speakers who are bilingual.
Causative  Speaker Table 7. Data analysis of fourth code mixing
factors ☐ Interlocutor
Data number 4
☐The Presence of the Third
Minutes to... 05:16
Speakers
Utterances Amélie: I am from Belgium… Ah
Topic :  principal
non, c’est pas grave! Hmm,
☐ formal/informal
parlons plutôt français! Euu…
☐ To generate a sense of humour dis-moi quelque chose en
☐ For prestigious français!
The data in Table 5 above shows that there is code Types of code ☐ Insertion code-mixing
switching is included in the intra-sentential switching mixing  Alternation code-mixing
type, because the language switching is in the same word, ☐ Congruent lexicalization
clause or sentence phrase and contains elements of  Outer code-mixing
several Japanese and French languages, namely ☐ Inner code-mixing
“Sumimasen! Lundi, 10 possible?” The contributing Causative ☐ Individual
factor, namely speakers who have bilingual skills. factors Situation : ☐ Participants
Table 6. Data analysis of third code mixing ☐ Formal/Informal
 Topic
Data number 3 ☐ Culture
Minutes to... 04:55
Utterances Amélie: Hmm sorry but I didn’t The data in Table 7 above shows that there is code
catch your name yesterday. mixing which is included in the alternation and outer
Rinri: Rinri. code-mixing types due to the mixing of the two languages
Amélie: Rinri… Ah d’accord. structures that occur in English and French sentences “Ah
Rinri. D’accord. Ok. non, c’est pas grave! Hmm, parlons plutôt français!
Types of code ☐ Insertion code-mixing Euu...dis-moi quelque chose en français!” The
mixing ☐ Alternation code-mixing contributing factor is the topic of conversation which
requires the interlocutor to speak French.
☐ Congruent lexicalization
 Outer code-mixing Table 8. Data analysis of the twenty-fifth code mixing
☐ Inner code-mixing
Data number 25
Causative  Individu
Minutes to... 37:57 and 38:00
factors Situation : ☐ Participants Utterances Rinri: C’est une dekotora.
☐ Formal/Informal (Decoration truck)
☐ Topic Rinri: Dekotora? C’est ne pas
☐ Culture facile pour voir.
Types of code ☐ Insertion code-mixing
The result of the third analysis is that the code-mixing mixing ☐ Alternation code-mixing
phenomenon can occur in utterances in dialogue among  Congruent lexicalization
movie characters. To analyse these utterances, the  Outer code-mixing
researcher adapted the theory of Muysken (2000) and ☐ Inner code-mixing
Suwito (1985) found in 39 utterances, such as insertion Causative  Individu
31 times, alternation 7 times, and once utterance in factors Situation : ☐ Participants
congruent lexicalization. Otherwise, in outer-code
mixing there are 38 times and once in inner-code mixing. ☐ Formal/Informal
Regarding the code-mixing type, which is adapted ☐ Topic
Eunhee’s (2006) theory to analyse the factors where code ☐ Culture
mixing occurs, such as individual factors 33 times,
situational topics 3 times and 3 times in cultural factors.

194
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 509

The data in Table 8 above shows that there is code https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Zn4-

mixing that is included in the type of congruent SK4HlaXHngiMwGW1Zumf-OX2vlTi
lexicalization and outer code-mixing, because of the
Creswell, J, W., & Creswell, J, D. (2018). Research
inclusion of the word “Dekorata” which has a similar
design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed
grammatical structure which is an absorption word in
English, namely decoration truck. The factors causing the methods approaches (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks.
speakers use local popular terms. California: Sage.

After analysing all the utterances in the dialogue Handayani, S. (2016). Pentingnya kemampuan berbahasa
between the main actors in the film Tokyo Fiancée by Inggris dalam menyongsong ASEAN communtiy
Stefan Liberski, several points can be drawn. Firstly, the 2015. Jurnal Profesi Pendidik, 3(1), 102-106.
analysis results found that there are three languages used Retrieved from http://ispijateng.org/wp-
by the main actors in the film, namely, French, Japanese content/uploads/2016/05/PENTINGNYA-
and English. This is due to the bilingualism of figures KEMAMPUAN-BERBAHASA-INGGRIS-
from two different countries. SEBAGAI-DALAM-MENYONGSONG-ASEAN-
COMMUNITY-2015_Sri-Handayani.pdf
Second, based on the results of the data analysis by
adapting Poplack’s theory (1980), it was found that 69 Mabule, D. R. (2015). What is this? Is it code switching,
utterances containing code switching in the film are code mixing or language alternating? Journal of
divided into three types, namely tag-switching (55.07%), Educational and Social Research, 5(1), 339-350.
inter-sentential switching (36.23%) and intra-sentential Retrieved from
switching (8.7%). The factors that cause code switching https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7147/494dca4b49
by adapting Suwito’s theory (1983) are speakers b1731926ebf59ecbe6d4e1f131.pdf
(71.01%), interlocutors (11.6%), the presence of a third
speaker (7.24%), the main topic of the speaker (4.35%), Manihuruk, L. M. E., & Hutabarat, N. M. P. (2019).
formal and informal situations (4.35%), sense of humor Students’code mixing in speaking class by the
and prestige (1.45%). second semester of English Study Program of
University of HKBP Nommensen Pematangsiantar.
Finally, from the results of data analysis by adapting Bahastra: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra
the theory of Muysken (2000) and Suwito (1985), it was Indonesia, 4(1). 301-310. Retrieved from
found that 39 utterances containing code mixing were https://jurnal.uisu.ac.id/index.php/Bahastra/search/
divided into five types, namely insertion (79.49%), authors/view?firstName=Leonita&middleName=M
alternation (17.95%), congruent lexicalization (2.56%), aria%20E&lastName=Manihuruk&affiliation=Uni
outer code mixing (97.44%) and inner code mixing
versitas%20HKBP%20Nommensen%20Pematangs
(2.56%). The factors that cause code mixing based on
iantar&country=ID
Eunhee’s (2006) theory are individuals (84.62%),
situations (participants, formal and informal topics Margareta, S. H., Daud, B., & Burhansyah, B. (2018). An
(7.69%) and cultural factors (7.69%). Analysis of Indonesian-English Code Mixing in
Kompas Daily Newspaper. Research in English and
5. CONCLUSION Education Journal, 3(3), 203-209. Retrieved from
http://www.jim.unsyiah.ac.id/READ/article/view/1
This research findings showed that the usage of the 1169/0
French language from the data were more dominated than
the other languages. In the type of code switching, tag Octavita, R. A. I. (2016). Code Mixing and Code
switching is the most dominated with the speakers as the Switching in Novel The Devil Wears Prada by
factors cause and in code mixing, the most dominating is Lauran Weisberger: A Sociolinguistic
insertion, outer code mixing and the individuals as factors Study. Scope: Journal of English Language
that cause of code mixing. This study also can be used as Teaching, 1(01), 69-76. Retrieved from
an alternative reference related to teaching materials, https://journal.lppmunindra.ac.id/index.php/SCOP
especially for sociolinguistic course in code switching E/article/viewFile/872/1027
and code mixing, the factors cause of the occurrence of
these two phenomena, and the examples of speeches in Poplack, S. (1978/1981). Syntactic structure and social
related film. function of code-switching. In Duran, R. P. (Ed.).
Latino discourse and communicative behavior. New
REFERENCES Jersey: Ablex Publishing Corporation
Pratiwi, D. (2006). Pergeseran Bahasa Sebagai Dampak
Bronckart, J., Bronckart, O. (Producers), & Liberski, S.
Sikap Bahasa. Diksi, 13(1). 86-94. Retrieved from
(Director). (2014). Tokyo Fiancée [Video file].
https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/diksi/article/vie
Retrieved from
w/6442/5566

195
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 509

Qonaatun, A. (2018). The Usage Factors of Code conversations at school. Lingua Scientia, 27 (1), 1-
Switching in Teaching Interaction of English Class. 12. http://dx.doi.org/10.23887/ls.v27i1.23970
Journal of English Language Teaching and
Sudrama, K., & Yadnya, I. B. P. (2015). Dilema
Literature, 1(1), 9-18. Retrieved from
multilingualisme dan implikasinya terhadap
http://ejournal.lppm-
perencanaan bahasa. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu
unbaja.ac.id/index.php/jeltl/article/view/21
Bahasa, 1(1), 94-107. Retrieved from
Rinawati, N. K. A., & Agustina, M. (2020). A code- https://www.ejournal.warmadewa.ac.id/index.php/j
mixing analysis on Efl students’ casual ret/article/view/15

196