Code-switching
Code-switching is a linguistic practice where individuals alternate between different languages or dialects depending on their conversational context. Coined by sociolinguist Einar Haugen in 1954, this phenomenon often occurs among bilinguals or multilinguals who might find themselves in situations where a shared language is insufficient due to proficiency differences. For example, Latino individuals raised in English-speaking environments may use a blend of English and Spanish, known as Spanglish, to communicate effectively. Similarly, pidgin languages arise in contexts where groups need to communicate but lack a common language, sometimes evolving into creole languages when they become established within a community.
Code-switching serves as a tool for identity establishment and cultural expression, particularly among marginalized groups. It allows speakers to navigate different social environments by adopting language patterns that resonate with their ethnic or social group while also learning the dominant language for professional or academic purposes. This practice is particularly noted among Black Americans, who may shift their speech patterns to avoid prejudice in certain settings. Overall, code-switching reflects the dynamic interplay between language, identity, and social context, highlighting the complexities faced by individuals in diverse linguistic landscapes.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Code switching
Coined by sociolinguist Einar Haugen (1906-1994) in 1954, code-switching is a meaningful form of language, interaction, and identity among individuals who are more proficient in separate languages than they are in a common, or shared, language. It is often an in-group device typically restricted to those who share the same expectations and rules of interpretation. For example, when Latino people raised in English-speaking countries such as the United States do not know certain Spanish words, they often communicate by substituting, or switching to, either English words or a combination of English and Spanish words, producing a mixture of the two languages that is known as Spanglish. Similarly, pidgin is a dialect of mixed words and slang that serves the needs of millions of people who would be unable to communicate without it.
Occasionally, a pidgin language form becomes firmly established; when it is acquired by children and becomes the primary language of a linguistic community, it is referred to as a creole language, taking on all the characteristics of a normal language. Historically and in the present day, certain forms of pidgin languages are found most often among impoverished and socially disadvantaged groups, particularly among ethnic minorities. To distinguish themselves from “outsiders,” participants often use code-switching to establish their identity with a particular social or ethnic group.
Because of their association with disadvantaged groups, these dialects often become stigmatized in wider society, and speakers must also learn the prestige dialect of the language so that they can use it, for example, in academic or professional settings. They will, however, generally still switch to the stigmatized dialect when speaking to friends and family from the same social and ethnic background. Perhaps confusingly, this behavior of switching between dialects based on one's surroundings is also colloquially known as code-switching, though it has little to do with the linguistic use of the term.
In the US, code-switching is a well-documented and longstanding practice among many Black Americans, who may avoid using African American vernacular English in situations where they are concerned they will face overt racism or other forms of prejudice. To deal with such situations, Black people in the US may use code-switching to adopt a different demeanor, vocabulary, or speech pattern. This type of coping is also common among individuals who belong to other marginalized groups.
Bibliography
Auer, Peter, editor. Code-Switching in Conversation: Language, Interaction, and Identity. Routledge, 1999.
Demby, Gene. "How Code-Switching Explains the World." NPR, 8 Apr. 2013, www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/04/13/177126294/five-reasons-why-people-code-switch. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Gardner-Chloros, Penelope. "Social Factors in Code-Switching." Code-Switching. Cambridge UP, 2009, pp. 42–64.
Harris, Ida. "Code-Switching Is Not Trying to Fit in to White Culture, It’s Surviving It." Yes! Magazine, 17 Dec. 2019, www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2019/12/17/culture-code-switching. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
MacSwan, Jeff. A Minimalist Approach to Intrasentential Code Switching. Routledge, 2013.
McCluney, Courtney L., et al. "The Costs of Code-Switching." Harvard Business Review, 15 Nov. 2019, hbr.org/2019/11/the-costs-of-codeswitching. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Sharma, Nirupika. "Let’s Talk About Code-Switching: A Double-Edged Sword." Berkeley, 14 Nov. 2023, grad.berkeley.edu/news/announcements/lets-talk-about-code-switching-a-double-edged-sword. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
Young, Vershawn Ashanti, et al. Other People's English: Code-Meshing, Code-Switching, and African American Literacy. Teacher's College Press, 2014.