What is Code- Switching and Four Major Forms of Code-Switching

What is Code- Switching?

Code-Switching refers to a change by a speaker from one language or language variety to another. This, of course, is the automatic consequence of the existence of registers since the same speaker necessarily uses different registers on different occasions.

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Code-Switching can take place in a conversation when one speaker uses one language and another speaker answers in a different language or language variety. A person may start speaking one language or language variety and then change to another one in the middle of a sentence.

Code-Switching is two types of it functioning completely differently in different environments.
One is Metaphorical Code-Switching and another one is Conversational Code-Switching.
Conversations Code-Switching refers to the phenomenon that a speaker may switch codes within a single sentence, and may even do so many times.

Metaphorical Code-Switching occurs where a variety normally used only in one kind of situation is used in a different kind because the topic is the sort that would normally arise in the first kind of situation. This type of Code-Switching normally occurs in the diglossic situation where two varieties of High and Low are existing side by side.

Code-Switching is going from one language to another in mid-speech when both speakers know the same two languages. For example, using two languages in the same conversation. So it refers to the alternative use of two codes or language, in a fully grammatically way, in the Same discourse and even in the same sentence.

Code-Switching demands a high level of bilingualism. It is rule-governed and requires command of the syntactic system of both languages. It is found all over the world bilingual speakers talk to each other. If a bilingual knows that the listener shares the same language, Code-Switching will be inevitable. There is not much point in being bilingual if they are restricted by the demands of one language.

Example of Code-Switching between language: Spanish language sentence is - To-dos Los Mexican were angry.

In this Spanish language, The  English language meaning is -
“All the Mexicans angry.”

Tok Pising/ English: “Lapun man is a camna tok oh yu poors pussiket” English meaning of this sentence is - The old man came and said “you poor pussycat”

Four major forms of Code-Switching

1.Tag Switching: Here tags and set/fixed phases in one language added to another language at the end of the sentences.   Less proficient users do this type of switching. For example, She is a beautiful girl. (Isn't she?).

2. Inter-word Switching: Here a change occurs within a word boundary.

3. Inter Sentential Switching: Here change takes place at the end of a change in sentence boundary where each change sentence is in one language on the other. Less proficient bilinguals tended to use less proficient Code-Switching ling forms such as single word borrowing tags inter Sentential Switching because these forms require less control of two grammars.

4.Intra-sentential Switching: Here switching occurs within a clause on sentence boundary. This is a most complex type of Code-Switching and if requires control of two linguistics systems simultaneously.

People switch code when one cannot express in one language and switch to compensate for the deficiency. However, Code-Switching is not language interference on basis that if supplements speech. Individual wishes to express solidarity with a particular social group. Someone wants deliberately to exclude a person from a conversation.