Code-Switching In Bilingual Children
Discuss the importance and function of code-switching in bilingual children and/or learners of a second language.
This essay will consist of arguments for and against the importance of code-switching (or CS). The positive aspects focus on CS as a conscious choice, CS a social tool and CS requiring a fluency in all languages involved. The negative aspects will consist of the stigma attached to code-switching in general and in children, the difference between CS and ‘code-mixing’ and whether CS occurs randomly. The main function that CS has is that it is a social tool. All functions I have found are an elaboration of this. The functions I will talk about most are using CS to manage conflict, to reiterate a point and to get attention. …show more content…
It is a conscious choice, which is evident from the amount of variables surrounding it, although it can sometimes be hard to tell to what extent. It is important because it can be used for many different functions and has many advantages, such as reiteration, an expansion of vocabulary, access to another language system and convergence or divergence to manage conflicts. It is a conversational strategy which demonstrates an individual’s identity. Although CS has a negative stigma attached, this is probably due to it being confused with code-mixing, as in fact it indicates intelligence. It requires an awareness of both languages, an understanding of both grammatical, pragmatic and syntactic structures and how to manipulate them. It would be interesting to look at this subject in more depth; particularly the psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic aspect and also the difference between CS in people brought up bilingually and people that learnt a second language fluently. To conclude, code-switching is important for bilingual children, as it has many useful functions that can be used in everyday …show more content…
E. and Toribio, A. J.,(2009) 'The Cambridge Handbook of Linguistic Code-switching’, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
-Gardner-Chloros, P. (2009) 'Code-switching ', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
-Heller, M. (1988) 'Code-switching: Anthropological and Sociolinguistic Perspectives ', Berlin: Walter de Gruyter & co.
Journal Articles
-Heller, M. (1995) 'Language Choice, Social Institutions, and Symbolic Domination. ' Language in Society 24 (3): 373-405
-Cromdal, J. (2004) 'Building Bilingual Oppositions: Code-Switching in Children 's Disputes. ' Language in Society 33 (1): 33-58
Oxford English Dictionary
-Oxford English Dictionary (2012) ’Code-switching’ [Online]. Available from: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/code-switching?q=code-switching. [Accessed 29th October
This essay will consist of arguments for and against the importance of code-switching (or CS). The positive aspects focus on CS as a conscious choice, CS a social tool and CS requiring a fluency in all languages involved. The negative aspects will consist of the stigma attached to code-switching in general and in children, the difference between CS and ‘code-mixing’ and whether CS occurs randomly. The main function that CS has is that it is a social tool. All functions I have found are an elaboration of this. The functions I will talk about most are using CS to manage conflict, to reiterate a point and to get attention. …show more content…
It is a conscious choice, which is evident from the amount of variables surrounding it, although it can sometimes be hard to tell to what extent. It is important because it can be used for many different functions and has many advantages, such as reiteration, an expansion of vocabulary, access to another language system and convergence or divergence to manage conflicts. It is a conversational strategy which demonstrates an individual’s identity. Although CS has a negative stigma attached, this is probably due to it being confused with code-mixing, as in fact it indicates intelligence. It requires an awareness of both languages, an understanding of both grammatical, pragmatic and syntactic structures and how to manipulate them. It would be interesting to look at this subject in more depth; particularly the psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic aspect and also the difference between CS in people brought up bilingually and people that learnt a second language fluently. To conclude, code-switching is important for bilingual children, as it has many useful functions that can be used in everyday …show more content…
E. and Toribio, A. J.,(2009) 'The Cambridge Handbook of Linguistic Code-switching’, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
-Gardner-Chloros, P. (2009) 'Code-switching ', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
-Heller, M. (1988) 'Code-switching: Anthropological and Sociolinguistic Perspectives ', Berlin: Walter de Gruyter & co.
Journal Articles
-Heller, M. (1995) 'Language Choice, Social Institutions, and Symbolic Domination. ' Language in Society 24 (3): 373-405
-Cromdal, J. (2004) 'Building Bilingual Oppositions: Code-Switching in Children 's Disputes. ' Language in Society 33 (1): 33-58
Oxford English Dictionary
-Oxford English Dictionary (2012) ’Code-switching’ [Online]. Available from: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/code-switching?q=code-switching. [Accessed 29th October