Code-switching

Code-switching

Code-switching (/koʊdˈswɪtʃ.ɪŋ/) is a term in linguistics that refers to the practice of alternating between two or more languages or language varieties in a single conversation or discourse.

Etymology

The term "code-switching" is derived from the concept of "code" in communication theory, where it refers to a system of symbols used to transmit information, and "switching", which refers to changing or exchanging. The term was first used in the mid-20th century in the field of sociolinguistics to describe the phenomenon of language alternation.

Pronunciation

The term is pronounced as /koʊdˈswɪtʃ.ɪŋ/, with the primary stress on the first syllable.

Related Terms

• Bilingualism: The ability to speak two languages fluently.
• Multilingualism: The ability to speak more than two languages fluently.
• Diglossia: A situation in which two dialects or languages are used by a single language community.
• Language transfer: The application of linguistic features from one language to another by a bilingual or multilingual speaker.
• Translanguaging: The process of making meaning, shaping experiences, gaining understanding and knowledge through the use of two languages.

See Also

• Language contact
• Interference (linguistics)
• Language attrition
• Language acquisition

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