“You’re a Juksing”: Examining Cantonese–English Code-Switching as an Index of Identity

Abstract

Code-switching, the spontaneous switching from one language to another, shows unique structural and functional patterns in different bilingual communities. Though historically viewed as negative, it has been documented as an acceptable way of speaking in certain contexts, namely multilingual communities. We investigated the implications of code-switching on bilinguals’ language attitudes and identities in Toronto, a distinctly multilingual and multicultural metropolis. Twelve Cantonese–English bilinguals participated in a semi-structured interview discussing their code-switching and language attitudes. Interviews were then evaluated using a critical realist framework and analysed via first and second cycle coding. Code-switching elicited mixed emotions: It was a source of pride, but also a reminder of weak Cantonese language skills due to others’ metalinguistic comments and judgments. Participants’ code-switching indexed them as juksings, labelling them as Chinese individuals born and raised overseas, de-authenticating their Chinese group membership. Results are discussed with regard to ethnic identity and intra-group communication.