Code Switching and Code Mixing refer to similar, yet very different, ways of mixing languages.
Code Switching happens when a person that speaks two languages mixes them, or say borrows words from one language, to be clearer and more effective in his/her communication. All over the world a lot of Code Switching happens with English words being used in other languages, pardon, all over the world BUT in France, to be precise… Code Switching is always consciously chosen, doesn’t break any rule in either language and normally happens when one speaks both languages well enough (although I doubt that applies to quite a few Italian journalists… but don’t get me started on that).
Code Mixing instead happens to both adults and children as they learn a language and borrow words and grammar from their mothertongue to compensate for their inability to express themselves in the second language. Code Mixing happens when one doesn’t speak one, or both, languages properly.
Code Mixing is very typical among bilingual children, a couple of points on this:
- Code Mixing is normal and temporary, it’s no reason for concerns. All children get over it, so if it happens to your child, just let it be.
- Even if the child mixes the two languages it doesn’t mean he’s not aware of speaking two different languages. Research has observed that in this phase children have already acquired two linguistic systems and are aware of each language’s grammar.
- If adults do a lot of Code Switching the child is more likely to get used to Code Switching too. He’ll still get over Code Mixing and he’ll learn both languages, but most likely he’ll jeep using a lot of Code Switching to express himself
- Code Switching is not in itself a problem but does have some disadvantages. If a child doesn’t separate the two languages it might be more difficult for the parents to understand how well he masters his language, it might look like he speaks both, while what might be doing is speaking one language and borrowing only few words from the other. If parents are not well aware of the dynamics, it’s difficult for them to understand whether they should provide more input for the weaker language.
So in short, if your child mixes the languages don’t worry, but if you can avoid doing the same it’s probably better.
Related posts:
5 ways to react when Bilingual Children mix languagesBlogging Carnival on Bilingualism, April
4 Comments
Ha ha about the French not using English. Lots of every day words in French are from English (weekend, sandwich, etc.), despite what the Académie française says. I personally think code switching is not a big deal and not even necessarily something to be avoided. For ex, if I am talking to my kids in French about something called “Friday Fun” at their school, why should I translate that into meaningless French? It is so mirco-specific, it seems silly to translate it…
Eve,
I personally think it’s a matter of degrees. There’s no black or white in anything, let alone in a multilingual and multicultural family.
I am completely with you that the occasional use of a word belonging to the other language doesn’t do any arm and might even be necessary for clarity (an italian mother living in Sweden brought the example of some berries that simply have no -known- name in Italian, for instance). A different thing though is to constantly switch between languages, which does happen though to people who master both languages. Sometimes just for the fun of it, more than for a real communication need.
I think ideally one should just be aware that minimizing code switching helps and keep an eye on it, as opposed to just letting words flow freely.
But then again, this is not a set in stone rule, everyone can and should decide according to what is best for them, if someone should feel this approach too limiting, well, then forget about it, it’s not the end of the world!
L.
Bonjour! You say code mixing occurs when people don’t know one, or both, languages properly. But many people mix languages conciously and for fun, should it really be avoided? It can be a marker of identity. For example, while on exchange, we mixed French and English amongst ourselves, inventing hybrid words that would make no sense to actual French people, but helped build a sort of bond between us
I guess as long as you’re aware of what’s appropiate in what context…^^)
Hi Slink and welcome,
the point is exactely that what you refer to, conscious mixing of languages, is Code Switching, while Code Mixing happens when you use a language to supplement your poor knowledge of the other. The end result doesn’t need to be very different, but they process of getting there is. Because if you know two languages well you can decide whether to mix them or not, i.e. code switch or not, as you say you just have to be aware of what is appropriate in the context, but when you don’t master the languages you just can’t help doing Code Mixing, because you don’t know how to express yourself otherwise.
L.
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[...] is very common for bilingual children to mix the languages in one conversation (a phenomenon called Code Mixing and not to be confused with Code Switching) or to use the “wrong” language for the context, for instance speaking German with mom instead [...]
[...] is very common for bilingual children to mix the languages in one conversation (a phenomenon called Code Mixing and not to be confused with Code Switching) or to use the “wrong” language for the context, for instance speaking German with mom instead [...]
[...] Finally, A. is also producing two words sentences, happily mixing languages like “Shoe Anna”, or “Car Nonno” (Nonno=Grandfather). Again, this is totally OK and doesn’t worry me in the slightest. As we saw earlier Code Mixing is normal, but it’s also one more reason to avoid Code Switching on the parent’s si… [...]