Code Switching

English and Urdu

Sociolinguistics
TIPU

Code Switching
What is Code Switching?
In linguistics, code-switching occurs when a speaker alternates between two or more languages,
or language varieties, in the context of a single conversation. Multilinguals, speakers of more
than one languagesometimes use elements of multiple languages when conversing with each
other. Thus, code-switching is the use of more than one linguistic variety in a manner consistent
with the syntax and phonology of each variety.
Although switching has at times been associated with language attrition, indicative of
weakness in one of the bilinguals languages, many researchers believe that code
switching is in fact a natural consequence of competence in more than one language and
that it should not be mistaken for a language deficit.

Bilingualism
We define bilingualism as having some ability to use two or more languages. Across the globe,
the majority of the population is either bilingual or multilingual.
The ability to speak two languages.
The frequent use of two languages.
Bilingualism is complex and varies widely among individuals.

Definitions:
Bloomfield (1933:55) Native - like control of two or more languages
Haugen (1953:7) The point where a speaker can first produce complete meaningful utterances
in the other language'
Grosjean (1997:67) The use of two (or more) languages in one's everyday life, not knowing
two or more languages equally well and optimally
A great deal of interest has been generated in the English language as a result of its spread
around the world and its use as an international language (Cheshire1991:7)
Bamgbose(2001:357) English is recognised as the dominating language in the world as
globalization comes to be universally accepted in political and academic discourse.
Code Switching: It is the juxtaposition within the same speech exchange of passages of speech
belonging to two different grammatical systems or subsystems (Gumperz 1982:59)

Examples of Urdu+English Code Switching:

Conclusion
Most speakers command several varieties of the language they speak, and bilingualism, even
multilingualism, is the norm for many people throughout the Pakistan and other countries rather
than monolingualism and while using these language they do exercise code switching. In
Pakistan peoples do exercise code switching for convenient or for the purpose of teaching. Major
code switching in Pakistan is Urdu+English

Bibliography:
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Exploratory Study of Language Socialization. Menendez, B. (2010). Cross-Modal Bilingualism:
Language Contact as Evidence of Linguistic Transfer in Sign Bilingual Education. International
Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, v13, n2 p201-223
Palmer, D. K. (2009). Code-Switching and Symbolic Power in a Second-Grade Two-Way
Classroom: A Teachers Motivation System Gone Awry. Bilingual Research Journal, v32 n1 p4259.
Reyes, I. (2004). Functions of Code Switching in Schoolchildrens Conversations. Bilingual
Research Journal, v28 n1 p77-98.
(Smith, D. J., (2009). Asymmetrical Mixing Patterns of Spanish and English in a New Immigrant
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Vu, J. A., Bailey, A. L., Howes, C. (2010). Early Cases of Code-Switching in Mexican-Heritage
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Ellen Kester, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Bilinguistics, Inc.
Alejandro Brice, Ph.D., CCC-SLP University of South Florida St. Petersburg