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CODE-SWITCHING
Everyone does it ...
Introduction
Growing up, my first language was Spanish and as I began school I
was taught English. At a young age, I found myself not really sure how
to express myself. It took me a while to understand where I needed to
speak English and where to speak Spanish. I had gotten so used to it
that when I spoke English in my house it would feel weird. Yet as my
sister came along we started alternating between English and Spanish.
Sometimes we would have a whole conversation in English yet some
sentences would have both English and Spanish. Yet for some reason,
we would understand each other better. I found four articles that gave
more information on how knowledge is shared using code-switching
because as young adults who have the knowledge of two languages, we
are still learning how to express our ideas and sometimes it could be
hard.

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What is Code-Switching?
I never really gave thought to who or what
code switching was and sometimes people
do it without even realizing it. I want to
start with defining Code switching. Code-
switching is when you change between
two or more languages or a variety of
languages in a conversation. This could be
when someone adjusts their language to Borrowing from English and
fit a situation, some people do it Spanish...
consciously and others do it without even
The type of code-switching I want
knowing it.
to talk about is Intrasentential code-
switching. I know you might be
reading this and be confused about
the meaning of the word, yet this is
not something new. This is the type of
code-switching we do in the middle of
our sentence as we are in conversation
or thought. The articles "Constraints on
Language Mixing: Intrasentential
Code-Switching and Borrowing in
Spanish/English" and "Code Switching
and X-Bar Theory: The Functional
Head Constraint" both explore the
phenomenon of code-switching in
bilingual language production. Both
Why should I Care? articles help our understanding of
code-switching by examining different
You might be thinking but what does
aspects of the phenomenon.
this have to do with me expressing
The first article analyzes the
myself... short answer everything. Our
limitations and patterns of code-
minds have the potential to switch
switching, with a focus on
between two languages and even make
intrasentential code-switching and
the sentence grammatically correct in
borrowing between Spanish and
the process. Even when at times when
English. It investigates factors such as
we do encounter grammatical
grammatical categories, syntactic
limitations our knowledge of both
boundaries, and sociolinguistic
languages allows us to understand. So
influences on code-switching
it's ok to use both languages even if
behavior. While the second article
you're iffy the best thing you can do is try
investigates how code-switching
because you can only grow from trying.
aligns with the requirement that the
switched element maintains its
grammatical role across languages.
The article focuses on code-switching
patterns within noun phrases and verb
phrases. When we code-switch we use
our knowledge of both languages to
make it flow.
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Situational Code-Switching
Situational Code-Switching
As an assignment in the first week of my
Writing class we had to write a message
to three different people, the financial aid
office, a friend, and a parent. As I began
to write the three messages I found
myself code-switching. When I wrote the
message to the financial aid office I
started to write the message as a proper
email and used words that were formal.
When I wrote the message to my friend I
started to see myself choosing a text as
What about Context?
the form of communication. I started my
Situational Code-Switching
message with an informal greeting and
As I stumbled upon the article "Code
used Slang as well as acronyms. Yet Switching" in Sociocultural Linguistics,
when I was writing to my parents I chose the article explores the phenomenon
a text as a form of communication yet of code-switching from a sociocultural
changed languages. People purposefully perspective. The article emphasizes
code-switch when they are found in the importance of context in
different situations. understanding code-switching
practices. It explains that code-
switching can vary depending on the
situational context, participants' social
roles, the topic of conversation, and
the specific communicative goals. The
study emphasizes the need to
consider the social and cultural
meanings attached to specific
language choices and switches in
different contexts. As we can all relate
to this we see how this is true to many.
Code-Switching at work? Moreover, the article discusses how
When I was working at a Clinic I would code-switching can influence
speak both English and Spanish, so I communication dynamics as well as
would code-switch constantly. There was social relationships. It suggests that
a moment with a patient where we were code-switching can make
speaking in English and as she was communication and comprehension
explaining what she needed yet couldn't among bilingual or multilingual
find the words and used Spanish to speakers easier
explain. At that moment I used my
ability to code switch to help her. “It can
be an efficient means to solve
comprehension challenges during
knowledge sharing between
linguistically and culturally diverse
[people] “(Ahmad, F., & Barner-
Rasmussen, W.,2019). Code-Switing can
be an ability that can help communicate
knowledge and connect on another level
to help your working ability.
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CODE-SWITCHING
Everyone does it ...
Conclusion

As I followed the conversation between these four articles my

knowledge about code-switching also grew. From seeing what limits
our abilities had to the potential we could reach while using our
ability to code-switch. What we have yet to understand is our ability
to code-switch between Spanish and English is no​​ burden, it is a gift
that we shouldn't be afraid to use. I know that expressing our ideas
and ourselves as a whole is no easy task. But if like me, you were or
are struggling with the idea of when and where to use English and
Spanish use this blog and evidence that you can use both languages
without fear. From people all over the world to your favorite Bloggers
code-switch. It is like this conversation opened me up to a new world
of realization, as I was writing about the instance of code-switching
there were times when I used code-switching without even knowing.

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CODE-SWITCHING
Everyone does it ...
Reference Page
Ahmad, F., & Barner-Rasmussen, W. (2019). False foe? when and how
code-switching practices can support knowledge sharing in
multinational corporations. Journal of International Managemen
t, 25(3), 100671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2019.03.002.

Nilep, C. (2017). “code Switching” in Sociocultural Linguistics.

https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/jfecn

Pfaff, C. W. (1979). Constraints on language mixing: Intrasentential code

switching and borrowing in Spanish/English. Language, 55(2), 291.
https://doi.org/10.2307/412586

Hedi M. Belazi, Edward J. Rubin, & Toribio, A. J. (1994). Code Switching and X-
Bar Theory: The Functional Head Constraint. Linguistic Inquiry, 25(2), 221–
237. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4178859.

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