Essay on Code-switching: an essential phenomenon of the bilingual world
An ability to switch codes as a way of transferring from one language to another during the conversation is considered not only a peculiarity of bilingualism, but also a method of enhancing abilities in solving different communicative tasks due to a high functional potential of this linguistic phenomenon. As a rule, the conscious process of intentional switching from one language to another is carried out with certain communicative purpose, such as emphasizing or concealing certain idea, expressing it in a more distinct way, making communication more emotional and natural or even showing one’s cultural and national features during the conversation. However, some people argue the fact that switching codes is a functional and important part of a conversation, saying that it rather shows one’s linguistic incapacity.
The following research discusses the question of whether code-switching is simply a sign of language incompetence or rather a functional and useful component of the communicative process. It attempts to shed light on the purposes of code-switching to find out whether code-switching is indeed necessary and functional or whether this is simply a feature of bilingualism expressing one’s language incompetence. The research refers to a number of analysts and investigators to give evidence of certain points of view and support the main statement.
Code-switching is a linguistic term that stands for an alternate use of two or more languages during a conversation or within the same utterance (Cunningham-Andersson & Andersson, 1999). The problem of code-switching has been investigated for multiple years and has long become a part of a separate linguistic discipline. This is mainly connected with the fact that modern world experiences migration of nations, globalization and consequently, interconnection of languages and cultures. Thus, the phenomenon of code-switching is widely discussed in present days.
Code-switching is considered to be a vital part of the bilingual world, in which people are used to unintentionally or intentionally switching from one language to another. It has become a norm for the societies, where people are used to using two or more languages or dialects and the process of code-switching in this case is a natural way of expressing one’s thoughts and ideas. It needs to be admitted that in this case, code-switching is not a sign of language incompetence, but rather a natural and inevitable linguistic capacity.
Today, many researchers view code-switching simply as an essential ability of people to switch from one language or dialect to another during the process of communication. However, there are linguists who claim that code-switching is a direct sign of one’s language incapacity as will be discussed below. Thus, some people would say that if you live in a bilingual world, it is inevitable to use two or more languages or dialects within a single communicative process. Others claim that code-switching is clearly a sign of one’s lack of linguistic education and thus, something that should be avoided during a conversation. This question is to be discussed in detail.
Wardhaugh (2006) identifies “code” as a separate system used during the communicative process between two or more people. Thus, it is a certain kind of dialect or language that one party occasionally chooses to use. Code-switching often stands for a combination of materials chosen from two or more languages and used in the same utterance or during the conversation. This phenomenon seems to be natural for those people who have grown in the bilingual environment and acquired competence in two or more languages or dialects. In this regard, code-switching cannot be perceived as one’s lack of language capacity. On the contrary, from this perspective, code-switching stands for one’s language competence as an ability to skillfully mix phrases or words from different languages during the conversation for different purposes that will be later discussed in this paper. Thus, the phenomenon of code-switching is natural and even essential for certain cultures and nations.
From the perspective of bilingualism, code-switching can be defined as a production of discourse that represents a combination of two or even more varieties of the linguistic repertoire of a person, for whom bilingualism is an inseparable part of daily life (Myers-Scotton, 1995). As a proof of the statement that code-switching is not a sign of one’s language incapacity, it needs to be said that bilinguals are able to use two or more languages within one utterance without any interruption of the flow of speech and by doing so, they make the conversation more colorful and full of emotions (Saunders, 1988). This proves that code-switching serves as means of diversifying one’s speech, enriching the process of communication and serving for a better understanding between the two parties. Thus, it should be viewed as a natural way of expressing one’s thoughts and ideas, especially in the bilingual world, where people are capable of using two or more languages or dialects and easily switch from one language to another.
Nevertheless, certain scientists classify code-switching as a phenomenon of “interference”. The notion of “interference” is rather controversial being supported and disapproved at the same time. Thus, Weinreich (1953) identified interference as certain deviation from the approved norms of either language that can be observed in the speech of bilinguals who are familiar with more than one language or dialect. Some linguists disapprove this notion, while others speak in favor of it. For this reason, the notions of “interference” and “code-switching” are classified differently. It is all due to the uncertainty of researchers as for deciding when the use of certain elements of one language cannot be called interference, but is more appropriate to be named code-switching (Auer, 1998). Code-switching is thus rejected as an example of interference due to the fact that the case of true interference is characterized by the assimilation of certain linguistic features. Code-switching takes place only when bilinguals add a totally unassimilated word or phrase from some other language into their speech, so that both languages still represent two independent entities with their own linguistic features, but belonging to the same discourse.
Further investigation of code-switching requires discussing its major purposes that need to be paid special attention. Main purpose of code-switching lies in maintaining or eliminating social borders between two parties. In this regard, with the help of code-switching, it is possible to establish relationships between the representatives of different social spheres, professions or age. Code-switching is often used as a measure that prevents or mitigates some stressful situation in the process of communication between two parties. It is also often used in one’s speech in order to adapt to another person, encourage a person for action or attract his or her attention. In such a way, code-switching is used for different purposes and more often results in the successful conversation instead of causing misunderstanding between the two parties during a conversation, even though this might seem a natural outcome of its use.
Code-switching is often used for the purpose of enriching or organizing one’s speech depending on the person’s communicative intentions (Adendorff, 1996). In this regard, code-switching is viewed as a communicative strategy aimed at filling a conceptual or linguistic gap in the speech of a person, thus enriching the conversation with phrases from a different language and compensating for the lack of appropriate expressions.
Essay on Code-switching: an essential phenomenon of the bilingual world part 2
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