Switching of language varieties in Saudi multilingual hospitals: insiders’ experiences

Abstract

Different languages, dialects, accents, or other forms of language (a.k.a. codes or varieties of language) are used in various healthcare facilities around the world. However, only a limited number of studies have explored the switching of varieties in healthcare environments. Hospitals in Saudi Arabia are multilingual and multicultural workplaces, where people of diverse nationalities either work or visit as patients. This study investigated codeswitching phenomenon in Saudi hospitals from the experiences of the healthcare workforce and patients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 participants with various nationalities, mother tongues, and work roles in a government hospital. The interviews data were transcribed and qualitatively analysed. Analysis results show that different unique types of varieties are used in the Saudi hospital due to the background characteristics of its workforce and patients. Moreover, the analysis reveals several motives for the mixture of language varieties in the healthcare industry. These motives can be obligatory and, in most cases, optional. The findings also show positive and negative attitudes toward the language varieties alternation. However, the attitudes of the participants are mostly positive because they believe that the codeswitching and codes mixing increases their work efficiency. This study thus recommends further investigation on the use of various varieties in healthcare facilities around the world.

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