AN ANALYSIS OF CODE SWITCHING FOUND IN “SEPET” MOVIE BY YASMIN AHMED

This study focuses on the phenomenon of code-switching found in the Malaysian movie Sepet directed by Yasmin Ahmad. The objectives of this study are to identify the types of code-switching used by the characters and to analyze the functions and matrix language of the code-switching occurrences in the movie. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method to provide a systematic explanation of codeswitching phenomena as they appear in natural conversational contexts. The data were taken from the dialogues of the movie Sepet and analyzed using Poplack’s (1980) theory of code-switching types, which classifies code-switching into tagswitching, inter-sentential switching, and intra-sentential switching. To analyze the functions of code-switching, Leech’s (1974) theory of language functions was applied, while Myers-Scotton’s (1993) Matrix Language Frame (MLF) model was used to identify the matrix and embedded languages in each utterance. The findings reveal that all three types of code-switching occur in the movie, with intra-sentential switching being the most dominant type. Functionally, code-switching in Sepet serves various communicative purposes, including informational, expressive, directive, aesthetic, and phatic functions, with the informational function occurring most frequently. The study concludes that code-switching in Sepet reflects the multilingual and multicultural reality of Malaysian society and functions as an effective communicative strategy to convey meaning, express emotions, and maintain social relationships.