Code-switching

The most important characteristic of a bilingual is the ability to use two or more languages. They use languages to communicate, not only with monolinguals but mostly with other bilinguals in the society. The choice of the language depends on intended hearer, the place and social setting. When bilinguals talk to other bilinguals with the same language background, they often switch from one language to another and back again during the same conversation. This is called code-switching. Code-switching can be performed in different ways: sometimes part of a longer narrative is spoken in one and another part in another language; a sentence can be started in L2 and finished of in L1. Sometimes only phrases and words from both languages may succeed each other. Some linguists such as Baker (1993, Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Clevedon: Multilingual Matterrs. p.77) suggested following purposes for code-switching: a) emphasise the point b) to avoid vocabulary deficit in one language c) to ease the epression d) repetition to clarify e) to express group identity f) to quote g) to interject in a conversation h) to exclude someone who desn't shear his/her language i) to cross social and ethnic background j) to ease the tension in a conversation Code-switching therefore is not a negative phenomenon, which is used to avoid langauge deficit. Code-switching is not a language mixing, it is a languge switching. It involves many socio-linguistic factors and reasons. They are all dealing with a question about when is code-switching performed. Different reasons for this phenomenon actually advantage bilinguals to monolinguals as they provide them with extra choices and possibilities to express themselves and to emphasize their points. Code-switching is therefore linguistic ability, which enables a person to successfully move in between the two language codes he/she possesses. As it depends on various factors (topic, situation, listener,...) it is always changing. Code-switching is a positive phenomena and it shouldn't be viewed as a sign of linguistic deficit. Rather it should be seen as a speaker's advantage in adapting to the language use situation.