Code Mixing and Code Switching

Code in sociolinguistics simply refers to a language or a language variety. Both Code Mixing
and Code Switching are in one way or another coming together of two or more languages or
codes. Unlike Pidgins and Creoles, these are milder instances of language contact situation. By
simple definition, Code Mixing is mixing of mostly words, but also phrases, clauses or even
complete sentences of two languages or varieties.
Code Switching is nothing but switching from one language to another to create a special
effect.. One of the key differences between Code Mixing and Code Switching is that Code
Switching is often deliberate, intentional and results in a special social consequence while Code
Mixing is often unintentional and has no special consequence.
What are the Causes of Code Mixing and Code Switching?
Let us first talk about one of the major causes of Code Mixing and Code Switching in
linguistics. Language contact is when two or more languages or communities speaking those
languages come in contact with each other. Coming together of individuals or communities
speaking distinct languages most often results into bilingualism within the communities or its
members. In this age of wide spread global communication, you can imagine that a language
or speech community can rarely be monolingual. Even if there were an isolated, monolingual
community somewhere, it would still show bilingualism, although within the language varieties
or dialects of that same language.
Hence, language contact and bilingualism are the prime causes of code mixing and code
switching in speech communities. This contact situation is not only brought by physical
interaction of the speakers. It can also be social media interaction. Some other examples that
facilitate language contact are academic or non-academic reading in a non-native language.
Code Mixing and Code Switching Difference
The terms code mixing and switching in sociolinguistics are so closely related that some
linguists do not mind using them interchangeably. Both involve hybridization of words,
phrases, clauses or even full sentences of two or more languages. The Difference between Code
Mixing and Code Switching is that switching is done in a particular setting or for a particular
purpose. And code mixing is done more out of linguistic requirement.
The language user switches codes while speaking in a certain style in front of another person.
In some way, this change from one language to another gives social identities to the speaker
while talking to different people. However, code mixing is more unintentional that way. We
can mix one code with another when we do not know the correct translation of a particular
word in another language. In fact, over the time, many code-mixed words become so frequent
that they form a part of the language as loan or borrowed words.
Infact code mixing occurs because sometimes a concept expressed by one language is totally
missing in another language. For example, the word jhootha in Urdu. The word is used for
something like a utensil or food that someone has already used or tasted. This concept is totally
missing in a language like English. So while speaking or writing in English, the user has no
option but to use the word as it is. The speaker can also choose to give a description of that
word instead. However, if he/she knows that the other person knows Urdu as well, he/she will
most likely use the word as it is without hesitation.
Difference between Code Mixing and Code Switching
Let us now try to understand Difference between Code Mixing and Code Switching by looking
at some example scenarios. While speaking Urdu, many people use the word “teacher” instead
of the word Ustad. This is because we use it less frequently. In fact, it is quite unnatural to say
it like that. Pure Urdu is spoken rarely these days.
Sometimes we do not mix words just to sound natural. It also happens that we forget words in
our language. Or we do not know them at all. For instance, do you know the Urdu word for the
“Hospital”? How about the word “Computer”?
The thing is that English is the language of Education. We use it everyday to achieve various
purposes. We see it all around us. Hence, it is not unlikely that we remember more English
words for common things. Code mixing of single words is very common in formal and informal
speech. Code mixing of complete clauses and sentences is also done. Although it is a little less
frequent.
An example of code switching is when a native Pahsto speaker is speaking Pahsto with his
friends. All of a sudden, his teacher comes and now he starts speaking Urdu/English. This is
switching. It is done intentionally because language users feel appropriate to communicate in
a certain way in certain situations.
Reasons Speakers Use Code Switching
There are a number of possible reasons for switching from one language to another; three are
described below.
• To Fulfill a Need. A speaker who may not be able to express him/herself in one
language might switch to another to compensate for the deficiency. As a result, the
speaker may be triggered into speaking in the other language for a while. This type of
code switching tends to occur when the speaker is upset, tired, or distracted in some
manner, or when they are less fluent in one language.
• To Express Solidarity. Switching also commonly occurs when an individual wishes
to express solidarity with a particular social group. Rapport is established between the
speaker and the listener when the listener responds with a similar switch.
• To Exclude Others. Code switching may also be used to exclude others from a
conversation who do not speak the second language. For example, if two people in an
elevator in an English-speaking place spoke Spanish, then not only would the others on
that elevator who do not speak Spanish would be excluded from the conversation, but
also a degree of comfort and intimacy would be established between the Spanish-
speakers due to the fact that not all those present in the elevator can listen to their
conversation.