Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11

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Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Received: 11 May 2023 Accepted: 31 May 2023 Published: 24 July 2023

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Abstract

Studies in code-switching (CS) during sermon deliveries, have been approached from various angles involving many language combinations, however, minimum literature is present on combinations involving English and Tshivenda. This study investigates this phenomenon which occurs often in churches where sermons are interpreted from English to Tshivenda and vice-versa. Following a sociolinguistic framework, it seeks to understand reasons for code-switching by pastors in selected recorded sermons. This study is conducted from the speech accommodation theory which posits that speakers adjust their speech styles to express their attitudes and intentions towards other interlocutors. Literature presents general reasons for code-switching: lack of facility, lack of register, to emphasize a point, to show identity with the group, to address a different audience, to attract attention, for pragmatic reasons, mood of the speaker, habitual experience, and semantic significance. For this study, two audio sermons, one involving a regular but untrained interpreter and another, involving a novice interpreter, were transcribed. Data was analyzed for code-switching elements observed and a determination made for possible reasons for code-switching linked to each utterance. Conversation analysis, an approach that investigates the sequential organization of talk to gain understanding of how participants organize talks in social interaction, was used to analyze data. The study found that pastors code-switch more than interpreters as they try to emphasise, clarify and explain certain points. Interpreters’ linguistic challenges forces the preachers into code-switching when the former omitted portions of utterances, uttered unfinished statements, and gave inaccurate approximate interpretations. These compelled the bilingual preachers to code-switch in the quest to assist the interpreters.

Published in	International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11
Page(s)	81-89
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Interpreter, Sermon, Code-Switching, Conversation Analysis, Utterance

References

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[2]	Al-Qaysi, N. 2018. A Review of Code-Switching: Learners and Educators’ Perspectives. International Journal of Information Technology and language studies (IJITLS), 2 (2). Pp 1-11.
[3]	Auer, P, (ed.) 1998. Codeswitching in Conversation Peter Auer (Ed.) (1998): London: Routledge. ISBN 0—415—15831 —1 (hardback). pp. viii +355.
[4]	Barredo, I. M. 1997. Pragmatic Functions of Code-switching among Basque-Spanish Bilinguals. Actas do I. ssi.webs.uvigo.es/actas. 1997- 528-541.
[5]	Bell, A. 1984/1991. Language Style as Audience Design. Language in Society, 13 (2), 145–204. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4167516
[6]	Blom, J. P & Gumperz, J. J. 1972. Social Meaning in Linguistic Structures: Code-switching in Norway. In J. J. Gumperz & D. Hymes (eds.). Directions in Sociolinguistics. New York: Holt, Reihart, & Winston.
[7]	Boztepe, E. 2003. Issues in Code-Switching: competing Theories and Models. In Working Papers in TESOL & Applied Linguistics. https://doi.org/10.7916/salt.v3i2.1626. (Accessed 19 April 2022).
[8]	Chen, L. 2013. Motivation for Code-switching in the Chinese Christian Church in the United States. Texas Linguistics Forum 56: 1-11. Proceedings of the 21st Annual Symposium about Language and Society. Austin. April 13-14, 2013.
[9]	Coulmas, F. 2013. The handbook of sociolinguistics. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
[10]	Da Silva, I. A. L, Esqueda, M. D, and Soares, B. E. 2018. Interpreting in a Religious Setting: An Exploratory Study of the Profile and Interpretive Process of Volunteer Interpreters. Traducao em Revista, 24. 2018. 1.
[11]	Gile, D. 2009. Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training, Revised Edition. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
[12]	Hakuta, K. 2009. Bilingualism. In: Encyclopedia of Neuroscience (pp. 173-178) December 2009. DOI: 10.1016/B978-008045046-9.01877-5. (Accessed 19 April 2022).
[13]	Hokkanen, S. 2019. Experiencing the Interpreter’s Role: Emotions of Involvement and Detachment in Simultaneous Interpreting. University of Tampere. www.sari.hokkanen@uta.fi. (Accessed 17 April 2022).
[14]	Kotze, H. 2018. Exploring the Role of the Pastoral Interpreter. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies. 74 (2), a 4873. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts. 74i2.4873.
[15]	Malik, L. 1994. Sociolinguistics: A Study of Code-switching. New Delhi: Anmol.
[16]	Odhiambo, K., Musyoka, E. N, & Matu, M. P. 2013. The Impact of Consecutive Interpreting on Church Sermons: A Study of English to Kamba Interpretation in Machakos Town, Kenya. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. Vol. 3, No. 8. August 2013.
[17]	Poplack, S. 1980. "Sometimes I'll start a sen-tence in Spanish Y TERMINO EN ESPANOL: Toward a typology of code-switching", in: Linguistics 18, 581-618 (PDF) Code-Switching. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317039973_Code-Switching [Accessed Aug 12 2021].
[18]	Ratnasari, L. 2017. The Reasons of Using Code Mixing in Sermon Sections by Preachers in Bethany Salatiga Church. Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Pendidikan. English Language Programme, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana.
[19]	Saragih, E. 2021. Priests’ Communication Practice and Perception of Code Mixing in Sunday Sermons. International Journal of Communication and Society. Vol. 3, No. 2, December 2021, pp. 152-165.
[20]	Unoma, C. P. 2021. Linguistic Analysis of Code switching and Code Mixing in the sermons of Selected Churches in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory. Dissertation Submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies. Department of English and Literary Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Veritas University, Abuja. January 2021.
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[22]	Winford, D. 2003: An Introduction to contact linguistics. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

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APA Style

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho. (2023). Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 9(3), 81-89. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11

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ACS Style

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho. Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2023, 9(3), 81-89. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11

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AMA Style

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho. Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2023;9(3):81-89. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11,
  author = {Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho},
  title = {Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {81-89},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20230903.11},
  abstract = {Studies in code-switching (CS) during sermon deliveries, have been approached from various angles involving many language combinations, however, minimum literature is present on combinations involving English and Tshivenda. This study investigates this phenomenon which occurs often in churches where sermons are interpreted from English to Tshivenda and vice-versa. Following a sociolinguistic framework, it seeks to understand reasons for code-switching by pastors in selected recorded sermons. This study is conducted from the speech accommodation theory which posits that speakers adjust their speech styles to express their attitudes and intentions towards other interlocutors. Literature presents general reasons for code-switching: lack of facility, lack of register, to emphasize a point, to show identity with the group, to address a different audience, to attract attention, for pragmatic reasons, mood of the speaker, habitual experience, and semantic significance. For this study, two audio sermons, one involving a regular but untrained interpreter and another, involving a novice interpreter, were transcribed. Data was analyzed for code-switching elements observed and a determination made for possible reasons for code-switching linked to each utterance. Conversation analysis, an approach that investigates the sequential organization of talk to gain understanding of how participants organize talks in social interaction, was used to analyze data. The study found that pastors code-switch more than interpreters as they try to emphasise, clarify and explain certain points. Interpreters’ linguistic challenges forces the preachers into code-switching when the former omitted portions of utterances, uttered unfinished statements, and gave inaccurate approximate interpretations. These compelled the bilingual preachers to code-switch in the quest to assist the interpreters.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa
AU  - Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho
Y1  - 2023/07/24
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 81
EP  - 89
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11
AB  - Studies in code-switching (CS) during sermon deliveries, have been approached from various angles involving many language combinations, however, minimum literature is present on combinations involving English and Tshivenda. This study investigates this phenomenon which occurs often in churches where sermons are interpreted from English to Tshivenda and vice-versa. Following a sociolinguistic framework, it seeks to understand reasons for code-switching by pastors in selected recorded sermons. This study is conducted from the speech accommodation theory which posits that speakers adjust their speech styles to express their attitudes and intentions towards other interlocutors. Literature presents general reasons for code-switching: lack of facility, lack of register, to emphasize a point, to show identity with the group, to address a different audience, to attract attention, for pragmatic reasons, mood of the speaker, habitual experience, and semantic significance. For this study, two audio sermons, one involving a regular but untrained interpreter and another, involving a novice interpreter, were transcribed. Data was analyzed for code-switching elements observed and a determination made for possible reasons for code-switching linked to each utterance. Conversation analysis, an approach that investigates the sequential organization of talk to gain understanding of how participants organize talks in social interaction, was used to analyze data. The study found that pastors code-switch more than interpreters as they try to emphasise, clarify and explain certain points. Interpreters’ linguistic challenges forces the preachers into code-switching when the former omitted portions of utterances, uttered unfinished statements, and gave inaccurate approximate interpretations. These compelled the bilingual preachers to code-switch in the quest to assist the interpreters.
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho

Department of African Languages, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa

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Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho. (2023). Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 9(3), 81-89. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11

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ACS Style

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho. Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2023, 9(3), 81-89. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11

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AMA Style

Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho. Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2023;9(3):81-89. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11,
  author = {Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho},
  title = {Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {81-89},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20230903.11},
  abstract = {Studies in code-switching (CS) during sermon deliveries, have been approached from various angles involving many language combinations, however, minimum literature is present on combinations involving English and Tshivenda. This study investigates this phenomenon which occurs often in churches where sermons are interpreted from English to Tshivenda and vice-versa. Following a sociolinguistic framework, it seeks to understand reasons for code-switching by pastors in selected recorded sermons. This study is conducted from the speech accommodation theory which posits that speakers adjust their speech styles to express their attitudes and intentions towards other interlocutors. Literature presents general reasons for code-switching: lack of facility, lack of register, to emphasize a point, to show identity with the group, to address a different audience, to attract attention, for pragmatic reasons, mood of the speaker, habitual experience, and semantic significance. For this study, two audio sermons, one involving a regular but untrained interpreter and another, involving a novice interpreter, were transcribed. Data was analyzed for code-switching elements observed and a determination made for possible reasons for code-switching linked to each utterance. Conversation analysis, an approach that investigates the sequential organization of talk to gain understanding of how participants organize talks in social interaction, was used to analyze data. The study found that pastors code-switch more than interpreters as they try to emphasise, clarify and explain certain points. Interpreters’ linguistic challenges forces the preachers into code-switching when the former omitted portions of utterances, uttered unfinished statements, and gave inaccurate approximate interpretations. These compelled the bilingual preachers to code-switch in the quest to assist the interpreters.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Code-Switching in Sermon Interpreting: The Case of English and Tshivenḓa
AU  - Ofhani Israel Tshovhewaho
Y1  - 2023/07/24
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 81
EP  - 89
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20230903.11
AB  - Studies in code-switching (CS) during sermon deliveries, have been approached from various angles involving many language combinations, however, minimum literature is present on combinations involving English and Tshivenda. This study investigates this phenomenon which occurs often in churches where sermons are interpreted from English to Tshivenda and vice-versa. Following a sociolinguistic framework, it seeks to understand reasons for code-switching by pastors in selected recorded sermons. This study is conducted from the speech accommodation theory which posits that speakers adjust their speech styles to express their attitudes and intentions towards other interlocutors. Literature presents general reasons for code-switching: lack of facility, lack of register, to emphasize a point, to show identity with the group, to address a different audience, to attract attention, for pragmatic reasons, mood of the speaker, habitual experience, and semantic significance. For this study, two audio sermons, one involving a regular but untrained interpreter and another, involving a novice interpreter, were transcribed. Data was analyzed for code-switching elements observed and a determination made for possible reasons for code-switching linked to each utterance. Conversation analysis, an approach that investigates the sequential organization of talk to gain understanding of how participants organize talks in social interaction, was used to analyze data. The study found that pastors code-switch more than interpreters as they try to emphasise, clarify and explain certain points. Interpreters’ linguistic challenges forces the preachers into code-switching when the former omitted portions of utterances, uttered unfinished statements, and gave inaccurate approximate interpretations. These compelled the bilingual preachers to code-switch in the quest to assist the interpreters.
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

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