Role and functions of code-switching in Malaysian courtrooms

Malay is the National Language of Malaysia. English is an important second language. Many of the older lawyers are more comfortable and proficient in English as English was the medium of instruction when they were in school. The younger lawyers had Malay as the medium of instruction and are consequently more comfortable in Malay. It was therefore hypothesized that code-switching would be used in a courtroom setting and the objective of this research is to investigate the functions of code-switching used by key personnel in a courtroom, i. e. lawyers, judges and witnesses.