Introduction

Abstract

Research in code-switching, undertaken against the backdrop of very negative attitudes towards the concurrent use of two or more languages within the same conversation, has traditionally been geared towards rehabilitating this form of language use. From being seen as a random phenomenon reflecting the user’s lack of competence, code-switching is currently seen as sign of an advanced level of competence in the languages involved and as serving different interactional functions. However, as a result of its success, the research tradition now faces an entirely new challenge: Where to from here? How can research in code-switching continue to be relevant and interesting now it has largely achieved its original purpose? This chapter outlines the case for a new direction in research in code-switching, foregrounds the need for mainstreaming bilingualism studies and suggests an inductive perspective, based on Conversation Analysis, as the right methodology for this new research direction. The chapter also outlines the organisation of the book as based on the notion of text as colony.