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Code-Switching

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Code-Switching

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micateacher24
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Code-Switching

Mica Thibodeaux

School of Education/Louisiana State University- Shreveport ESL601: Introduction to Language

& Culture

Dr. Kate Jones

September 29, 2024


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Code-switching is a common linguistic behavior that can be seen in bilingual and

multilingual communities. It involves members of those communities being able to alternate

between two or more languages within a single conversation (Van Herk, 2018). The switch can

occur across sentences, clauses, and can depend on social context. Even some who speak one

language can participate in a form of code-switching. This one is more known as diglossia,

where the speaker is switching between a formal and informal way of speaking. This essay will

explore my own experiences with diglossia and include insight from my bilingual co-teacher,

who speaks English and Korean, to understand how and why code-switching is a common

occurrence.

In my daily life, I am often code-switching through diglossia, depending on my social

setting. Being Black also adds another layer to my experience with diglossia. In many informal

settings, more specifically in black spaces, I will use African American Vernacular English

(AAVE). Using this way of speech is a way for me to connect to myself and my community in a

way that is natural and authentic to me. However, at work, I try to omit as much AAVE from my

vocabulary as possible. This switch in my speech pattern is - for the most part - a conscious

decision, while in some cases it is an unconscious decision made of necessity as a form of

survival as a black woman. As a black woman, my use of diglossia reflects that necessity for

survival and for professional expectations. Van Herk (2018) also describes how speakers can

alternate through different language varieties in order to fit their audience and context.

To understand code-switching in its other form, I interviewed my co-teacher, Julie Lee,

who speaks both English and Korean. In this interview she explained that she switches based on

the context and audience of who she is speaking to. Lee generally mostly uses English in her

work life, to teach lessons and talk with our students, but will switch to Korean when she makes
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her weekly phone call to parents or has to communicate with upper administration.She also must

take any information given to her in Korean and switch to English in order to relay it to me. She

also noted that it was important for her to switch even with other Korean English-speaking

coworkers as a sign of respect that is culturally significant in Korea. Lee recognizes that

switching is necessary to help her bridge gaps in understanding between many different

audiences, myself included. We discussed the pressure that it may bring. She states that while it

can be stressful at times switching back and forth, that she is thankful to be able to use more than

one language.

After I asked her if she was aware of the code-switching, she shared that it comes

naturally to her at this point. There are times where she can get stuck trying to remember specific

words, both in her native language and English, but those moments are fleeting. An example of

her seamless switches between the two languages could be observed during her class times.

Sometimes, after explaining something in English and noticing that the students need more help

understanding, she can recognize this quickly and switch into Korean to help give more details to

the instruction. As a teacher to 3 year olds, there is an added element of her having to also speak

in a way that is understandable in both languages, as our students are so young that they are still

learning a lot about their own native language. Lee perfectly demonstrates that code-switching

can be strategically used in order to enhance communication and solidarity (Van Herk, 2018)

My experience with diglossia and the knowledge gained from interviewing my co-teacher

can illustrate exactly how code-switching and language adaptation can be vital in

communication, especially in the world of language learning. Whether that switch is done in a

formal or an informal way, it can shift to help navigating an individual through different types of

social contexts. For me, a black woman, code-switching also includes keeping a balance between
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both identity and societal pressures. The description of code-switching, as provided by Van Herk

(2018) is extremely prevalent in both my own personal experience, and that of my co-worker,

who makes sure to adapt her language for any situation she is in.
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References

Van Herk, G. (2018). What is sociolinguistics (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

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