Exploring Multilingual Minds: A Study of Laboratory-induced Language Code-switching in Four Languages | Chapter 2 | An Overview of Literature, Language and Education Research Vol. 1

Background and Objectives: Bilinguals deal with more than one language at a given time and depending on their linguistic environment, they constantly must decide which language they need to use in each conversation and situation. This requires them to switch between languages frequently, sometimes in a single conversation. This phenomenon is called code-switching which is a continuous stream of words in a different language in a given conversation. This study aims to examine bilingual code-switching across four languages in an experimental setting. Additionally, this study focuses on determining if the nature of a language or the linguistic background of the speakers influence laboratory-induced code-switching.

Methods: Bilingual speakers of English and either Spanish, French, German or Arabic participated in an extensive interview in their heritage language and completed an online survey containing 87 questions about their linguistic background. At a predetermined time during the interview, a monolingual English speaker interrupted the interview and remained in the room for the rest of the interview.

This study was done at the Department of Psychology, Queens University of Charlotte, January 2015 to March 2018.

Each language group included 20 subjects for a total of 80 subjects (39 men, 41 women, age range 18-77 years). The subjects included both college students and members of the community. The interviewer only spoke in one of the heritage languages and instructed the participants to only speak in that heritage language. The interview was videotaped and any occurrence of code-switchers after the interruption was recorded.

Results: This study confirmed that code-switching can be induced under laboratory conditions for more than one heritage language. Consistent with the initial prediction, several of the French, Spanish and Arabic subjects code-switched after the interruption. Those subjects who had learned their heritage language earlier in life or were more fluent in their heritage language were found to be less likely to code-switch in the presence of the interrupter (P = .02; P = .03). Subjects with a strong family heritage linguistic background were also less likely to code-switch (P = .006).

Conclusion: Overall, laboratory induced code-switching was found in three out of four languages. Furthermore, across the four heritage languages, the linguistic background and the level of fluency of bilinguals were predictive of code-switching behaviours. Based on the current findings, it is reasonable to assume that more fluent bilinguals learn their heritage language early from their parents and they are less likely to revert to code-switching in the presence of monolingual speakers

 

Author(s)details:-

 

Lily Halsted
Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.

Aimee Taylor
University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.

 

Please See the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aoller/v1/386

Analysis of Code-switching Used by Bilingual Students in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Case of Christian Bilingual University of Congo | Chapter 5 | Current Progress in Arts and Social Studies Research Vol. 1

Aims: To identify reasons why the community members of the Christian Bilingual University of Congo code-switch from English to French and vice-versa. In addition, this study seeks to identify different functions that the code-switching practice has at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo.

Study Design: The data from this study have come from the participatory observation technique which involved the researcher participating in observing, listening, and asking a few questions as he was immersed in different activities in order to experience reality. The study, thus, used the qualitative approach.     

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Education, January to September 2018.

Methodology: This study examines the purposes of code-switching and how it is used to achieve the speaker’s communicative intents at the Bilingual Christian University of Congo. Data were collected through participatory observation during the triadic training activities (academics, work program and service learning) that offers the Bilingual Christian University of Congo. In addition, data were collected during chapel, academic meetings, professional development sessions, etc. The data were organized according to the situation that triggered the code-switching.

Results: The findings show that code-switching is a style of language used at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo that speakers employ to organize, enhance and enrich their speech. It occurs both in formal and informal contexts of communication.

Conclusion: The result of this study has shown that code-switching behavior is not random nor is it seen as a sign of linguistic deficiency or inadequacy. It is rather a negotiation between the style of language use and the communicative intents of the speakers.

The findings have revealed that code-switching usage at UCBC is seen as functionally motivated behaviour. It has a discourse enhancing functions where speakers code-switch to express solidarity and affiliation with a particular group, to fill a linguistic or conceptual gap of the speaker; it provides continuity in speech, it compensates for the inability of expressions, to reiterate or emphasize a point in order to repair trouble, gap and silence in communication.

 

Author(s)details:-

 

Mumbere Malonga Mashauri (M.Ed TESOL)
Christian Bilingual University of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

 

Please See the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cpassr/v1/574

Analysis of Code-switching Used by Bilingual Students in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Case of Christian Bilingual University of Congo | Chapter 5 | Current Progress in Arts and Social Studies Research Vol. 1

 

Aims: To identify reasons why the community members of the Christian Bilingual University of Congo code-switch from English to French and vice-versa. In addition, this study seeks to identify different functions that the code-switching practice has at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo.

Study Design: The data from this study have come from the participatory observation technique which involved the researcher participating in observing, listening, and asking a few questions as he was immersed in different activities in order to experience reality. The study, thus, used the qualitative approach.     

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Education, January to September 2018.

Methodology: This study examines the purposes of code-switching and how it is used to achieve the speaker’s communicative intents at the Bilingual Christian University of Congo. Data were collected through participatory observation during the triadic training activities (academics, work program and service learning) that offers the Bilingual Christian University of Congo. In addition, data were collected during chapel, academic meetings, professional development sessions, etc. The data were organized according to the situation that triggered the code-switching.

Results: The findings show that code-switching is a style of language used at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo that speakers employ to organize, enhance and enrich their speech. It occurs both in formal and informal contexts of communication.

Conclusion: The result of this study has shown that code-switching behavior is not random nor is it seen as a sign of linguistic deficiency or inadequacy. It is rather a negotiation between the style of language use and the communicative intents of the speakers.

The findings have revealed that code-switching usage at UCBC is seen as functionally motivated behaviour. It has a discourse enhancing functions where speakers code-switch to express solidarity and affiliation with a particular group, to fill a linguistic or conceptual gap of the speaker; it provides continuity in speech, it compensates for the inability of expressions, to reiterate or emphasize a point in order to repair trouble, gap and silence in communication.

 

Author(s) Details:

 

Mumbere Malonga Mashauri (M.Ed TESOL)
Christian Bilingual University of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

 

Please see the book here:  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cpassr/v1/574

Analysis of Code-switching Used by Bilingual Students in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Case of Christian Bilingual University of Congo| Chapter 5 | Current Progress in Arts and Social Studies Research Vol. 1

 Aims: To identify reasons why the community members of the Christian Bilingual University of Congo code-switch from English to French and vice-versa. In addition, this study seeks to identify different functions that the code-switching practice has at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo.

Study Design: The data from this study have come from the participatory observation technique which involved the researcher participating in observing, listening, and asking a few questions as he was immersed in different activities in order to experience reality. The study, thus, used the qualitative approach.     

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Education, January to September 2018.

Methodology: This study examines the purposes of code-switching and how it is used to achieve the speaker’s communicative intents at the Bilingual Christian University of Congo. Data were collected through participatory observation during the triadic training activities (academics, work program and service learning) that offers the Bilingual Christian University of Congo. In addition, data were collected during chapel, academic meetings, professional development sessions, etc. The data were organized according to the situation that triggered the code-switching.

Results: The findings show that code-switching is a style of language used at the Christian Bilingual University of Congo that speakers employ to organize, enhance and enrich their speech. It occurs both in formal and informal contexts of communication.

Conclusion: The result of this study has shown that code-switching behavior is not random nor is it seen as a sign of linguistic deficiency or inadequacy. It is rather a negotiation between the style of language use and the communicative intents of the speakers.

The findings have revealed that code-switching usage at UCBC is seen as functionally motivated behaviour. It has a discourse enhancing functions where speakers code-switch to express solidarity and affiliation with a particular group, to fill a linguistic or conceptual gap of the speaker; it provides continuity in speech, it compensates for the inability of expressions, to reiterate or emphasize a point in order to repair trouble, gap and silence in communication.

 

Author(s) Details:

Mumbere Malonga Mashauri
Christian Bilingual University of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CPASSR-V1/article/view/14881