THE USE OF CODE-SWITCHING AND CODE-MIXING AS FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNICATIVE STRATEGIES AMONG EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES

This study investigates the use of code-switching and code-mixing as formal and informal communicative strategies among undergraduates of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU). The objectives of the study were to identify how often students engage in code-switching and code-mixing, to examine the linguistic and social contexts in which they occur, and to analyse their communicative functions in both formal and informal interactions. The study adopted a sociolinguistic approach and used a questionnaire distributed to 150 students drawn from different faculties within the university. Data collected were analysed using simple descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that code-switching and code-mixing are highly common among EKSU undergraduates. Students switch and mix languages mainly between English, Yoruba, and Pidgin English to express emotions, emphasize meaning, and establish social identity and solidarity. The study also found that while students freely use these linguistic strategies in informal conversations, social media interactions, and peer discussions, they tend to avoid them in formal settings such as classroom presentations, written assignments, and interviews. Factors such as peer influence, language proficiency, and situational context were also identified as strong determinants of language alternation. The study concludes that code-switching and code-mixing serve as vital communicative tools among Nigerian youths, reflecting both linguistic creativity and sociocultural identity. It recommends that students should maintain awareness of appropriate language use across contexts, and that further research should continue to explore the dynamics of language alternation in Nigerian tertiary institutions.