Code-mixing and code-switching in K-pop

multilingual interaction and multimodalities in South Korean music for global audiences

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47456/rctl.v19i42.48183

Keywords:

Code-mixing & code-switching, Translanguaging, Konglish, K-pop, Hallyu

Abstract

The South Korean music industry is characterized by multilingualism in its compositions and interactions with global audiences. This study investigates the use of code-mixing, code-switching, and Konglish, from a translanguaging perspective, in K-pop. For this, we conducted qualitative bibliographical research (Gil, 2010) on Hallyu (Moon, 2023), Transnational Proximity (Jin, 2023), Translanguaging (Li, 2018; Li; Lee, 2023), code-mixing (Muysken, 2000), code-switching (Poplack, 2000), and Konglish (Park, 2021; Fayzrakhmanova, 2023). The analysis focuses on the mini album 19.99 by the group BoyNextDoor, considering linguistic choices, commercial impact, and achievements at awards ceremonies. In addition, we analyzed public reception through comments on the MVs (Music Videos) of “Dangerous” and “Nice Guy” on YouTube. The results indicate that translanguaging in K-pop contributes to intercultural communication and identity formation. By being associated with the production of music accessible to global audiences, it participates in the process of glocalization (Jang, 2023). Thus not only extends reach and interaction but also plays a crucial role in the global spread of South Korean culture and transnational consumption practices. In this way, it promotes identification and meaningful connection between listeners around the world.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Tielly dos Reis Gomes, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA)

    Graduanda em Letras - Língua Inglesa da Faculdade de Línguas Estrangeiras (FALEST) da Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), campus Bragança. Bolsista de iniciação científica.

  • Rafael de Souza Timmermann, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA)

    Doutor e mestre em Letras pela Universidade de Passo Fundo (UPF). Especialista em Ensino e Aprendizagem de Língua Inglesa pela mesma instituição. Graduado em Letras - Português/Inglês pela Universidade de Cruz Alta (Unicruz). Professor da Faculdade de Línguas Estrangeiras (FALEST) da Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA).

References

BOYNEXTDOOR. 19.99. Seul: KOZ Entertainment: 2024.

BENJAMIN, Jeff. BOYNEXTDOOR Wants to Redefine Who the Boy Next Door Represents: ‘You Never Know Who’s Living Next Door’. Billboard's K-Pop Rookie of the Month for October embodies creative freedom and friendliness in the industry, with a message being increasingly embraced worldwide. Billboard. 18 out. 2024. Disponível em: Acesso em 18 out. 2024.

CONTEH, Jean. Translanguaging. ELT journal, v. 72, n. 4, p. 445-447, 2018.

FAYZRAKHMANOVA, Yulia. Sociocultural profile of Koreanized English words. Asian Englishes, v. 25, n. 1, p. 133-145, 2023.

GARCÍA, Ofelia; KLEIFGEN, Jo Anne. Translanguaging and literacies. Reading research quarterly, v. 55, n. 4, p. 553-571, 2020.

GENIUS. 19.99 BOYNEXTDOOR. Disponível em: https://genius.com/albums/Boynextdoor/19-99. Acesso em: 02 out. 2024.

GIL, A. C., 1946. Como elaborar projetos ou pesquisa. 4 ed. São Paulo: Atlas, 2010.

HYBE LABELS. BOYNEXTDOOR (보이넥스트도어) “부모님 관람불가” Official MV. Youtube, 02 set. 2024. Disponível em: <https://youtu.be/YkCXVgcsGTU?si=4OVS1HoIiwAZXnHp>. Acesso em: 05 out. 2024.

HYBE LABELS. BOYNEXTDOOR (보이넥스트도어) “Nice Guy” Official MV. Youtube, 09 set. 2024. Disponível em: <https://youtu.be/HJlc_tFkB3M?si=kIoPBhuygGUj8J-s>. Acesso em: 05 out. 2024.

JANG, W. The Korean Wave as a glocal cultural phenomenon: addressing the new trends in Korean studies. In: ROULLEAU-BERGER, L.; LI, P.; KIM, S. K.; YAZAWA, S. Handbook of Post-Western Sociology: From East Asia to Europe. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2023. p. 398-412, v. 5.

JIN, D. Y. Transnational Proximity of the Korean Wave in the Global Cultural Sphere. International Journal of Communication (19328036), v. 17, 2023.

KAUFMAN, Gil. BOYNEXTDOOR Talk Personal, ‘True Story’ Vibe of New EP ‘19.99’: ‘We Always Feel Pain of Growth’. The seven-song EP featuring single "Dangerous" dropped on Monday (Sept. 9). Billboard. 09 set. 2024. Disponível em: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/boynextdoor-1999-ep-personal-true-stories-1235770213/ Acesso em 10 out. 2024.

KIM, Eunhee. Reasons and motivations for code-mixing and code-switching. Issues in EFL, v. 4, n. 1, p. 43-61, 2006.

KOZ, Entertainment. BoyNextDoor Discography. 19.99. Disponível em: https://kozofficial.com/artist/discography/BOYNEXTDOOR/27. Acesso em: 15 out. 2024.

KOZ, Entertainment. BoyNextDoor Profile. Disponível em: https://kozofficial.com/artist/profile/BOYNEXTDOOR. Acesso em: 15 out. 2024.

KWAK, Kristine. BOYNEXTDOOR on Their New EP, Their Dream Collaborations, and More. The K-pop artists are building on the success they've already seen — and they have big ambitions for the future. Rolling Stones. 09 set. 2024. Disponível em: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/boynextdoor-new-ep-1999-1235096628/. Acesso em: 10 out. 2024.

MIN, W. Korean Wave reception and the participatory fan culture in Latin America. What lies beyond the media reports. In: YOON, Tae-Jin; DAL YONG, Jin. The Korean Wave: evolution, fandom, and transnationality. London: Lexington Books, 2017, p. 145-162.

MOON, Si Yeun. Future of Hallyu: Hallyu 5.0. Journal of Product Research, v. 41, n. 4, 69-75, 2023.

MUYSKEN, P. Bilingual Speech A Typology of Code Mixing. UK: Cambridge

University Press, 2000.

POPLACK, Shana. Toward a typology of code-switching. L. WEI (ed.), The bilingualism reader. London, New York: Routeledge, p. 221-255, 2000.

PARK, J. S. Konglish as Cultural Practice: Reconsidering the English Language in South Korea. International Journal of TESOL Studies, v. 3, n. 3, 2021.

TOKYO COLLEGE. Transpositioning: A New Take on Translanguaging and Identities. Youtube, 01 mar. 2023. Disponível em: <https://youtu.be/Wg8Ga3I7Ytw?si=6z6kmCOkXH_12tA4>. Acesso em: 01 out. 2024.

WEI, Li. Translanguaging as a practical theory of language. Applied linguistics, v. 39, n. 1, p. 9-30, 2018.

WEI, Li; LEE, Tong King. Transpositioning: Translanguaging and the liquidity of identity. Applied Linguistics, 2023.

YEE, Siyeon. From BND to 19.99y.o. all over. Album Review of BOYNEXTDOOR’s 19.99. Weverse Magazine. 09 set. 2024. Disponível em: https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/1205?lang=en&artist=BOYNEXTDOOR. Acesso em: 10 out. 2024.

Downloads

Published

05-11-2025

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 42 (2025): Revista (Con)Textos Linguísticos - Fluxo Contínuo

Section

Artigos

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Revista (Con)Textos Linguísticos

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Authors assign the copyright of the article to the publisher of Revista (Con)Textos Linguísticos (Graduate Program in Linguistics, Ufes), if the submission is accepted for publication. Responsibility for the content of articles rests exclusively with their authors. The full or partial submission of the text already published in this periodical to any other periodical is prohibited.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.