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Codeswitching is a common phenomenon found among multilingual interlocutors. Tamil speakers tend to insert into their Tamil speech words, phrases and sentences from other mainstream languages commonly used in Malaysia. This kind of codeswitching if neglected can be a threat to the Tamil language. Many culture-specific Tamil words will disappear and English or Malay words may replace them. This book shows which language functions as the dominant language during conversation. Further, the linguistic patterns of codeswitching and how codeswitching correlates with sociolinguistic and socioeconomic parameters are also highlighted. The reasons why codeswitching occurs are extensively discussed. Hence, the analysis should be useful to linguistics professionals, scholars or anyone who is interested in the field of codeswitching. It will also enlighten researchers with regard to the language behaviour of people in general, regardless of whether they are speakers of Tamil, Malay, English or any other languages.

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MUTHUSAMY, Paramasivam is currently a senior lecturer in Tamil language in the Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia. He teaches Tamil language and is involved in research besides publishing and undertaking postgraduate supervision in these areas.

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