Code‐switching: a natural phenomenon vs language ‘deficiency’

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Code‐switching is a very important aspect of bilingualism, and is a natural occurrence when two bilingual speakers engage in discourse. For the most part, such individuals are not consciously aware that they are code‐switching. Nonetheless, it serves an important social function. Whenever there is more than one language spoken in a community, its population will code‐switch. The purpose of this paper is to first examine the types of code‐switches that bilingual speakers use and listener attitudes toward this behavior. Some linguists view code‐switching as inevitable, and feel that it helps to express meanings more precisely, while others believe that code‐switching can serve to pollute a language, rather than enhance the communication between bilingual individuals. Professionals in speech‐language pathology have viewed the use of the amount and types of code‐switching as indicators for relative language proficiency or, on occasion, as the lack thereof. Some practitioners view code‐switching as a symptom of language deficiency. However, the authors contend that when code‐switching is used to maximize communication and to strengthen not only the content but the essence of the message, it can be considered an asset, not a deficiency. However when used in great abundance, and to the degree that it interferes with communication, it can be considered a deficit. Second, this paper discusses the importance of collecting data based on the ethnographic approach in order to gain more insight into this phenomenon. Such data need to be analyzed qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The authors propose a framework for in‐depth studies, i.e. cumulative studies of code‐switching under various contexts. The following analyses of each instance of code‐switching may then assist researchers to obtain a holistic and qualitative understanding of such behaviors.