Academic Research International     Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2012         MANIFESTATION OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL CODE SWITCHING IN NAIROBI, KENYA Juliet Akinyi Jagero Bondo University College, Bondo, KENYA. jageroakinyi@yahoo.com Eston Kwach Odongo Kampala International University Dar es Salaam College, Nairobi, KENYA. esauko@yahoo.com ABSTRACT This paper discusses Manifestations of Code Switching in Nairobi. The main objective is to examine the influence of Variables such as Formality and Informality of the conversation context in Code Switching and Code selection. The researcher tape- recorded spontaneous speech from the respondents, then the tape recorded data was transcribed on paper and the extracts from the transcribed text were analyzed based on the tenets of Speech Accommodation Theory and Markedness Model. The study has revealed that speakers Switch Codes in an attempt to exhibit their level of confidence, domination and also when they desired a need for social integration and approval. It was further revealed that Formal (English /Kiswahili)and Informal Codes (Sheng’/mother tongue) were used for different function, Formal Codes were used to convey a more official context and seriousness while Informal Codes were used for a relaxed context and lack of seriousness. It was therefore realized that each of the Codes has a specific function and social symbolism to each individual group Keywords: Formal, Informal Code switching in Nairobi. INTRODUCTION In a Multi-lingual society such as Kenya, due to Socio-structural factors, different Speech Communities, Gender, Age groups and even Professional Rank determines a speaker’s Social vitality and therefore the level of confidence a speaker has amongst other speakers. It is therefore this actor among others that determines the patterns of conversation of different speakers and therefore evens the Code Switching pattern of different speakers. Nairobi is Kenya’s capital and as such it harbors people of diverse ethnic backgrounds interacting and working together. For instance it is very normal to find people of ten different ethnic backgrounds working together. It is also possible to find a mixture of races. Apart from Blacks, one may encounter Whites and even Asians. Many Nairobians are multilingual and employ the habit of CS in their day-to-day interaction. It is quite a complex linguistic situation and therefore not easy to identify a system used. A college like Nairobi Aviation College is one place where people from different ethnic communities work and interact. People communicating in such a situation need to use language very creatively and productively. The college staff room is a central place where people of different Ranks and Gender different topics, which have varying degrees of formality. Therefore this study aimed at establishing how males and females speakers and also staff of higher and lower Ranks Code Switch, bearing in mind that language doesn’t exist in a Social Structural Vacuum. The study intended to show that although CS is just speech behavior, it also indicates the Socio- cultural position and beliefs, Professional Rank and even as a manifestation of Power or influence of difference of different speakers.