What Is Code-switching?

Code switching refers to the switching between two or more different languages in a single conversation. This occurs when a bilingual person uses both languages to communicate with another person. It happens consciously as well as sub-consciously. In most cases both the people in the conversation are conversant with both languages.

The switch from one language to the other can last for a single phrase to a few sentences. The switch is made mainly due to the mood of the speaker or he/she might feel that a particular part of the conversation can be best conveyed by switching to another language. The switch might also happen because the person does not know the appropriate word or phrase in a particular language. Code switching happens very often in ethnic minority communities in different countries. E.g. It is prevalent in the Indian and Hispanic communities in the United States.

Pidgin is often confused with code switching but it differs because it refers to the mixing up of two different languages in a single word.

It is a linguistics term more commonly used for more than one type of language during conversation with another person, and they could use components of many languages of a different kind when conversing with another person.