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CODE-SWITCHING
Everyone does it ...
Introduction
Growing up, my first language was Spanish and as I began school I
was taught English. At a young age, I found myself not really sure how
to express myself. It took me a while to understand where I needed to
speak English and where to speak Spanish. I had gotten so used to it
that when I spoke English in my house it would feel weird. Yet as my
sister came along we started alternating between English and Spanish.
Sometimes we would have a whole conversation in English yet some
sentences would have both English and Spanish. Yet for some reason,
we would understand each other better. I found four articles that gave
more information on how knowledge is shared using code-switching
because as young adults who have the knowledge of two languages, we
are still learning how to express our ideas and sometimes it could be
hard.

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What is Code-Switching?
I never really gave thought to who or what
code switching was and sometimes people
do it without even realizing it. I want to
start with defining Code switching. Code-
switching is when you change between
two or more languages or a variety of
languages in a conversation. This could be
when someone adjusts their language to
Borrowing from English and fit a situation, some people do it
consciously and others do it without even
Spanish... knowing it.

The type of code-switching I want to

talk about is Intrasentential code-
switching. I know you might be
reading this and be confused about
the meaning of the word, yet this is
not something new. This is the type of
code-switching we do in the middle of
our sentence as we are in conversation
or thought. The articles "Constraints on
Language Mixing: Intrasentential
Code-Switching and Borrowing in
Spanish/English" and "Code Switching
and X-Bar Theory: The Functional
Head Constraint" both explore the
phenomenon of code-switching in Why should I Care?
bilingual language production. Both
You might be thinking but what does
articles help our understanding of
this have to do with me expressing
code-switching by examining different
myself... short answer everything. Our
aspects of the phenomenon. The first
minds have the potential to switch
article analyzes the limitations and
between two languages and even make
patterns of code-switching, with a
the sentence grammatically correct in
focus on intrasentential code-
the process. Even when at times when
switching and borrowing between
we do encounter grammatical
Spanish and English. It investigates
limitations our knowledge of both
factors such as grammatical
languages allows us to understand. So
categories, syntactic boundaries, and
it's ok to use both languages even if
sociolinguistic influences on code-
you're iffy the best thing you can do is try
switching behavior. While the second
because you can only grow from trying.
article investigates how code-
switching aligns with the requirement
that the switched element maintains
its grammatical role across languages.
The article focuses on code-switching
patterns within noun phrases and verb
phrases.When we code-switch we use
our knowledge of both languages to
make it flow.
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What about Context?
Situational Code-Switching
As I stumbled upon the article "Code
Switching" in Sociocultural
Linguistics, the article explores the
phenomenon of code-switching
from a sociocultural perspective. The
article emphasizes the importance
of context in understanding code-
switching practices. It explains that
code-switching can vary depending
on the situational context,
participants' social roles, the topic of
conversation, and the specific
communicative goals. The study
emphasizes the need to consider
the social and cultural meanings
attached to specific language
choices and switches in different
contexts. As we can all relate to this
we see how this is true to many.
Moreover, the article discusses how
code-switching can influence
communication dynamics as well as
social relationships. It suggests that
code-switching can make
communication and
comprehension among bilingual or
multilingual speakers easier
Situational Code-Switching
Situational Code-Switching
As an assignment in the first week of my
Writing class we had to write a message
to three different people, the financial aid
office, a friend, and a parent. As I began
to write the three messages I found
myself code-switching. When I wrote the
message to the financial aid office I
started to write the message as a proper
email and used words that were formal.
When I wrote the message to my friend I
started to see myself choosing a text as
the form of communication. I started my
message with an informal greeting and
used Slang as well as acronyms. Yet
when I was writing to my parents I chose
a text as a form of communication yet
changed languages. People purposefully
code-switch when they are found in
different situations.
Code-Switching at work?
When I was working at a Clinic I would
speak both English and Spanish, so I
would code-switch constantly. There was
a moment with a patient where we were
speaking in English and as she was
explaining what she needed yet couldn't
find the words and used Spanish to
explain. At that moment I used my
ability to code switch to help her. “It can
be an efficient means to solve
comprehension challenges during
knowledge sharing between
linguistically and culturally diverse
[people] “(Ahmad, F., & Barner-
Rasmussen, W.,2019). Code-Switing can
be an ability that can help communicate
knowledge and connect on another level
to help your working ability.
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CODE-SWITCHING
Everyone does it ...
Conclusion
As I followed the conversation between these four articles my
knowledge about code-switching also grew. From seeing what limits
our abilities had to the potential we could reach while using our
ability to code-switch. What we have yet to understand is our ability
to code-switch between Spanish and English is no​​ burden it is a gift
that we shouldn't be afraid to use. Although I know that expressing
our ideas and ourselves as a whole is no easy task. But if like me, you
were or are struggling with the idea of when and where to use
English and Spanish use this blog and evidence that you can use both
languages without fear. From people all over the world to your
favorite Bloggers code-switch. It is like this conversation opened me
up to a new world of realization , as I was writing about the instance of
code-switching there were times where I used code-switching
without even knowing.

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CODE-SWITCHING
Everyone does it ...
Reference Page
Ahmad, F., & Barner-Rasmussen, W. (2019). False foe? when and how code
switching practices can support knowledge sharing in multinational
corporations. Journal of International Management, 25(3), 100671.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2019.03.002

Nilep, C. (2017). “code Switching” in Sociocultural Linguistics.

https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/jfecn

Pfaff, C. W. (1979). Constraints on language mixing: Intrasentential code-

switching and borrowing in Spanish/english. Language, 55(2), 291.
https://doi.org/10.2307/412586

Scribd. (n.d.). Code switching and X-bar theory: The functional head constraint.
Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/document/205432043/Code-Switching-and-X-
Bar-Theory-The-Functional-Head-Constraint

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