Talk:Code-switching

The second set of examples in § Matrix language-frame model doesn't specify the language being switched with English. The text refers to it as "Nairobi", but there is no such language.^[1][2] Swahili seems the likeliest, and applying Google Translate to a section of example #2 supports that.^[3] I'm editing accordingly. --Thnidu (talk) 07:05, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

I removed this sentence: "Like verbal code-switching, non-verbal code-switching can provide contextualisation cues."

The sentence cited Pahta and Nurmi (2009). That piece defines code-switching as "an umbrella term to refer to any identifiable changes from one language to another within a communicative episode". Their intent, as I understand it, is to include historical letters as "communicative episodes" that can feature code-switching. They do not suggest non-verbal code-switching as far as I can see. They do write, "we can speak of code-switching as a contextualisation cue, as one of the many linguistic or non-verbal procedures which can be used for signalling contextual presuppositions". But I take it that they mean contextualization cues – not code-switching – can be non-verbal. Cnilep (talk) 03:32, 21 July 2016 (UTC)

In the intro section, there are three full paragraphs about the linguistics usage of the term before we get to everyday usage of the term. Should this be reorganized, perhaps to put the everyday usage first then all the linguistics, or else linguistics paragraph 1, then everyday, then linguistics 2 and 3? --zandperl (talk) 16:40, 20 September 2016 (UTC)

The rest of the article is about linguistics. As a general rule, Lead sections should reflect article content. The disambiguation page, named in the hatnote, can help readers find the Code Switch blog or literature using multiple languages. Cnilep (talk) 00:06, 21 September 2016 (UTC)

We British switch weights and measure, metric and imperial all the time; is this considered code switching by linguists? If so should this be covered by the article? It actually seems very similar to me and this page came up when search for the proper phrase to describe this. 185.6.155.248 (talk) 12:06, 8 May 2019 (UTC)

It's an interesting phenomenon! But no, it's not code-switching in the linguistic sense. Pathawi (talk) 05:59, 23 June 2020 (UTC)

discusses code-switching making remote work more difficult. 2601:648:8202:96B0:0:0:0:313A (talk) 17:13, 22 January 2021 (UTC)

Isn't the most obvious reason for code switching that some concepts require more, or longer, words in one language than another, so bilinguals will tend to use whichever is shorter and easier to say. I have observed this a lot while listening to my wife dropping English words into conversation in Farsi. Isn't laziness a major driving force in linguistic evolution? DenisHowe (talk) 10:26, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

No, there are decades of research on code-switching with many documented communicative functions, none of which are laziness. Laziness is also not a major driving force in linguistic evolution. Unless you have some sources other than your interpretation of your wife's speech, this won't be a productive avenue for discussion.2601:602:9200:80:CD4C:FAEC:4248:3F45 (talk) 06:44, 22 May 2022 (UTC)

Also, ad-hoc borrowing (here: dropping English words into conversation in Farsi) is something many would consider "code-mixing" rather than "code-switching". –Austronesier (talk) 11:55, 22 May 2022 (UTC)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 20 October 2022 and 16 December 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Potato2357 (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Potato2357 (talk) 21:12, 9 November 2022 (UTC)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 9 January 2023 and 31 March 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Caiversi25, Ephvex, LaShubbySheeks, Olkxiver (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Roach Jefferson (talk) 23:57, 20 March 2023 (UTC)

Hello! I am Melany Mihai a student from UCSB in a Writing 2 class. We are doing a project on editing Wikipedia pages and I would like to add this portion into the intro. In linguistics, code-switching or language alternation occurs when a speaker alternates between two or more languages, or language varieties, in the context of a single conversation or situation. Code-switching is different from plurilingualismin that plurilingualism refers to the ability of an individual to use multiple languages,[1] while code-switching is the act of using multiple languages together. Multilinguals (speakers of more than one language) sometimes 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. Code-switching may happen between sentences, sentence fragments, words, or individual morphemes (in synthetic languages). However, some linguists consider the borrowing of words or morphemes from another language to be different from other types of code-switching.[2][3] There are many ways in which code-switching is employed, such as when a speaker is unable to express themselves adequately in a single language or to signal an attitude towards something.Likewise, code-switching is utilized when communicating with different jargon and in different setting. Code-switching is used to directly adapt to the audience so that they understand you clearly and effectively.Several theories have been developed to explain the reasoning behind code-switching from sociological and linguistic perspectives. Caiversi25 (talk) 14:02, 2 March 2023 (UTC)

Hello! This is Kaixiang Lin. I am also a student from UCSB Writing 2 and work on the same project mentioned above. I am planning to add some portion of terms that are usually confused with Code-switching, like Code-Meshing, and translingual. I think these would be best fit under the section of Distinguishing features and to avoid over repetitive, I am planning to mainly focus on the differences between these if there are. I am not sure if this would be helpful to page, or this is already considered and intentionally left out. Some advice would be highly appreciated! Thanks ahead. Olkxiver (talk) 06:59, 8 March 2023 (UTC)

Hello! This is Kaixiang Lin. I am also a student from UCSB Writing 2 course. I executed my plan as I discussed above and eventually to add my edit as the subsection called Easily Confused Terns under the section Distinguishing features. Feel free to edit these if I made mistake of inappropriate formatting and talk to me on the talk page of my sandbox about these. Thanks ahead! Olkxiver (talk) 06:27, 22 March 2023 (UTC)

At some point, the references in the education section got unlinked, or whoever added them didn't port them over correct from a sandbox. Not sure where exactly the info comes from- there are at least four un-linked sources in there and im not sure how long they've been there for, unlinked. The info there tracks with the rest of the article, so it definitely had actual sources at some point, i just have no clue where from. Ejones0 (talk) 21:13, 9 May 2023 (UTC)

The section "Code-Switching in Language Education" appears to have been added by User:Ephvex with this edit in March 2023. The text added at that time includes the non-functional numbers (e.g. "code-switching is often a very common method to establish communication between educators and learners.[1]") visible now. Perhaps it was copied from a sandbox or other page. Unfortunately Ephvex doesn't seem to be around after their course ended in April, but User:Ephvex/sandbox appears to include the draft text, with references. Cnilep (talk) 05:34, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 3 April 2023 and 16 June 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Julianatejada, Gaucho221, Maritzagmz (article contribs). Peer reviewers: Roxyrenteria, Miaisa5224, A.staleto, Alyssancor, Jaasxmin.

— Assignment last updated by Bryceucsb (talk) 01:22, 13 June 2023 (UTC)

Hello, I am a student at UCSB working on a writing project in order to add to the code-switching conversation. I would like to add additional information to the application in language learning process paragraph, as well as the bilingual advantage paragraph. Additionally, I would like to add my own paragraph based on the bilingual disadvantage. Gaucho221 (talk) 20:58, 5 June 2023 (UTC)

On a similar note, the examples listed on the article seem to be innacurate as some look more like examples of Code-meshing. Supporting this, there has been much recent research and changing opinions in recent years on this matter. The whole section doesn't cite any sources and the above section only cites one extremely outdated source from last century. I propose writing new examples. What does everyone think? Knowledgegatherer23 (Say Hello) 07:34, 23 June 2023 (UTC)

Why were this user's edits allowed to go through? This person has simply replaced the academic (useful) definition of code-switching with the popular misunderstanding of it. Code-switching is NOT simply speaking different language varieties to other people! Why would that even have a name? Does anyone struggle to identify why a bilingual French-English speaker might choose to use French in France and English in England? 2600:8800:2F00:3970:499E:9E4C:539:253C (talk) 04:20, 29 July 2023 (UTC)

Code-switching in remote settings has become higher on the writing agenda due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Remote settings have taken the likes of social media, emails, and any other setting where communication has been made via online platforms.

What is the writing agenda? In the second sentence, what exactly does taken mean? —Tamfang (talk) 21:46, 18 July 2023 (UTC)

I think that they maybe meant to say that code-switching is being taken into account and performed intentionally in some remote-meeting contexts. Malacitana (talk) 16:12, 21 July 2023 (UTC)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 22 August 2023 and 4 December 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Elli207 (article contribs). Peer reviewers: Klb123456, Empen004.

— Assignment last updated by Studenteditor03 (talk) 14:40, 8 November 2023 (UTC)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 21 August 2023 and 11 December 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Geodude27 (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Fedfed2 (talk) 00:54, 9 December 2023 (UTC)

For Example, the American English sentence "First day I walk in the door, there she was" transforms into "First day I walk in the door" in African American English. This alteration serves to clarify the action, emphasizing its singular occurrence.

Can someone check the source of this passage to confirm that the phrase transforms into exactly the same phrase? (And that Example is indeed anomalously capitalized?) —Tamfang (talk) 21:02, 8 December 2023 (UTC)

This is a grave misrepresentation of the source. Apart from the fact that American English sentences do not "transform" into AAVE sentences, the author Rusty Barrett actually presents the sentence "First day I walk in the door, there she was" as the correct AAVE version of incorrect **"First day I walk in the door, there she be", a sentence that appears in Kathryn Stockett's novel The Help (one of many language blunders in that novel). Barrett writes: "Why is a college-educated White woman rewarded for using African American English incorrectly in her writing, while an African American child who writes in perfectly correct African American English is likely to be reprimanded, corrected, or asked to switch it out for another more appropriate version of English?" I will remove the passage, since it really misses Barrett's point. –Austronesier (talk) 21:33, 8 December 2023 (UTC)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 8 January 2024 and 1 April 2024. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Lumpialover041 (article contribs). Peer reviewers: Serendipitysss.

— Assignment last updated by Icecream209 (talk) 07:07, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

This article doesn't mention this topic. Is there a reason for that? Wiki-uk (talk) 19:25, 25 May 2024 (UTC)

Predominantly discussions of code-switching in the context of slavery refers to Situational code-switching. While there is a lot of linguistic research about enslaved people and the language contact from the Atlantic Slave Trade, I can't find or think of any specifically about the sort of bilingual code-switching that might fit this topic. Mars3 (talk) 01:26, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

This article seems to alternate between discussing the phenomenon that academic linguistics most often calls "code-switching" (the one that the introduction explains) and discussing the phenomenon that popular culture and politics calls "code-switching" (the one that's incompletely explained in the 2nd paragraph of the "use" section) For example, the "rationale" section has some bullet points that seem to be about the popular meaning and others that seem to be about the linguistic meaning. "Code-switching in the classroom" is entirely about the popular meaning, while "code-switching in language education" is about the linguistics meaning. I find this pretty confusing because those sections don't indicate which type of code-switching they're talking about. Is it just me? Are there ways to make this article more useful? Pedanticeditor1 (talk) 06:32, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

The classroom section is written more like a persuasive essay than a section within an encyclopedia entry. Additionally, it's written from a clear American view (see "this American Culture") That334 (talk) 13:43, 1 October 2024 (UTC)

I've been using Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental large language model to create summaries for the most popular articles with {{Technical}} templates. This article, Code-switching, has such a template in the "Matrix language-frame model" section. Here is the paragraph summary at grade 5 reading level which Gemini 2.5 Pro suggested for that section:

One idea about how people mix two languages when they talk is called the Matrix Language-Frame model. It says people use one main language, like a frame for a sentence, and put words or phrases from a second language inside that frame. The main language's grammar rules control how the sentence is built. Sometimes, the main language stops words from the second language if they don't fit the rules, like puzzle pieces that don't match. If a word doesn't fit right, the speaker might switch and say a whole chunk using only the second language, called an "island." Some kinds of phrases, like common sayings or time expressions, are more likely to be said as these language "islands."

While I have read and may have made some modifications to that summary, I am not going to add it to the section because I want other editors to review, revise if appropriate, and add it instead. This is an experiment with a few dozen articles initially to see how these suggestions are received, and after a week or two, I will decide how to proceed. Thank you for your consideration. Cramulator (talk) 12:55, 2 April 2025 (UTC)

@Cramulator: I suggest you to take this to a forum where you could get relatively high participation. I'm not sure many people are watching this talk page. —CX Zoom[he/him] ^{(let's talk • {C•X})} 15:31, 2 April 2025 (UTC)

I just re-did all the summaries for ninth instead of fifth grade reading level, as I'm told that's the target for STEM articles. I'll try to fold those back into these 68 talk page posts as alternative suggestions, then I'm going to wait and see what happens for at least a week and come up with a strategy to go forward after that; possibly involving WikiProjects. Cramulator (talk) 15:38, 2 April 2025 (UTC)

I am retracting this and the other LLM-generated suggestions due to clear negative consensus at the Village Pump. I will be posting a thorough postmortem report in mid-April to the source code release page. Thanks to all who commented on the suggestions both negatively and positively, and especially to those editors who have manually addressed the overly technical cleanup issue on six, so far, of the 68 articles where suggestions were posted. Cramulator (talk) 01:34, 5 April 2025 (UTC)

I think I saw this on Wikipedia's Guaraní page, if I'm right then it would be better to add it here. IJustWantAnUserName (talk) 20:39, 22 June 2025 (UTC)

Code-switching between English and Tagalog (Filipino), as well as English and other native languages, is very widespread in the Philippines.

And in Hawaii. Taglish is everywhere, particularly in the service industry. Viriditas (talk) 23:01, 22 June 2025 (UTC)

This article is currently the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 5 January 2026 and 20 March 2026. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Sophiaonur, Pedri Glazer, Kellyli888, Krithih (article contribs). Peer reviewers: Sher13v.

— Assignment last updated by AnnaBenny81 (talk) 05:06, 9 March 2026 (UTC)