4 - Conversational code switching

Summary

Conversational code switching can be defined as the juxtaposition within the same speech exchange of passages of speech belonging to two different grammatical systems or subsystems. Most frequently the alternation takes the form of two subsequent sentences, as when a speaker uses a second language either to reiterate his message or to reply to someone else's statement. The following examples are taken from natural talk recorded in bilingual communities. The language pairs in question are Spanish and English (Sp–E), Hindi and English (H–E) and Slovenian and German (Sl–G); where appropriate, English translations are given in parentheses. Speakers are fluent in both languages and regularly use both in the course of their daily routines.

1. (1) Chicano professionals in California, exchanging goodbyes (Sp–E).

2. A. Well, I'm glad I met you.

3. B. Andale pues (O.K. swell).

4. (2) A college student in India, telling an anecdote (H–E):

5. Mai g∂ya jodhpur me (I went to Jodhpur). There is one professor of Hindi there, he is a phonetician. To us-ne pronauns kiya ∂pne vais-se (so he pronounced it in his own voice).

6. (3) Family conversation in a Slovenian village in Austria talking about a visiting peddler (Sl–G):

7. A. Tot∂ kuarbc∂ y∂ mewa (she had such baskets).

8. B. No na jinyan (no I don't believe it).

9. C. Ya di mit di kerbalan (the one with the baskets).

10. […]