Comments on: Code Mixing and Code Switching in Bilingual Children (and Families)

By: Bilingual For Fun

Bilingual For Fun — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:38:48 +0000

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.

By: Slink

Slink — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:12:12 +0000

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…^^)

By: Bilingualism at 23 months, I | Bilingual For Fun

Bilingualism at 23 months, I | Bilingual For Fun — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:27:21 +0000

[...] 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… [...]

By: How Parents can help Bilingual Children separate the Languages « Bilingual For Fun

Sat, 09 May 2009 23:09:03 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: How Parents can help Bilingual Children separating the Languages « Bilingual For Fun

Sat, 09 May 2009 23:04:47 +0000

By: L.

L. — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:29:14 +0000

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.

By: ebodeux

ebodeux — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:58:15 +0000

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…