Code-Switching in Online Gaming: Sociolinguistic and Linguistic Patterns Among Jordanian PUBG Players

Abstract

This study investigates code-switching (CS) between Jordanian Arabic (JA) and English in the conversations of young Jordanian gamers playing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). The research explores the types of CS present in gaming discourse, specifically alternational, insertion, and congruent lexicalization, and examines the sociolinguistic motivations underlying these practices. The analysis reveals that while Jordanian Arabic dominates the conversations, English is predominantly inserted in the form of individual words or short phrases, particularly in relation to gaming-specific vocabulary. Insertion CS is the most common type, reflecting bilingual asymmetry, with English used for technical terms and gaming jargon. Alternational CS, involving switches at the clause or sentence level, occurs less frequently but is used to emphasize points or address globally recognized gaming concepts. Additionally, congruent lexicalization shows how English terms are integrated into the Arabic syntactic structure. The findings suggest that the players' code-switching behavior reflects both their cultural identity and alignment with the global gaming community. The use of English not only facilitates communication within the international gaming environment but also signals affiliation with a transnational digital culture. The study highlights the role of English proficiency, influenced by age and exposure to English media, in shaping bilingual communication strategies. This research contributes to the understanding of code-switching in online gaming and offers implications for language learning, particularly through gaming platforms, which can serve as informal learning environments for English proficiency.