P-Pop on the Rise: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Codeswitching in SB19’s Lyricism

Abstract

Code-switching in music functions not only as a means of emotional expression but also as a strategic linguistic resource through which artists construct hybrid identities and engage diverse linguistic and cultural audiences. This descriptive-qualitative study investigates the types, functions, and sociolinguistic implications of codeswitching in the lyricism of SB19, a leading P-pop group. Guided by Poplack’s (1980) typology of codeswitching and Blom and Gumperz’s (1972) functional framework, ten selected SB19 songs were analyzed using content analysis. Results show that intra-sentential code-switching is the most prevalent type, reflecting the group’s linguistic fluency and stylistic flexibility. Among the seven identified functions, marking personality or objectification emerged as the most dominant, highlighting the role of code-switching in expressing identity, stance, and emotional engagement. Two major sociolinguistic implications were derived: (1) identity construction through multilingualism and (2) linguistic accessibility coupled with cultural pride. While the dataset is limited to ten songs from a single group, the findings demonstrate how SB19’s strategic language choices contribute to positioning P-pop as both globally accessible and deeply rooted in Filipino identity. The study recommends that future research expand datasets, incorporate listener perspectives, and employ additional sociolinguistic frameworks to further examine the role of language in popular music.