CODE-SWITCHING PATTERNS IN INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS AMONG BILINGUAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Shirinoy Hayitova

Authors

Shirinoy Hayitova teacher at Philology and Language Teaching department

Keywords:

Code-switching, Bilingualism, Informal conversations, Language mixing, Sociolinguistics, University students, Communication patterns, Language identity, Language choice.

Abstract

Code-switching—the systematic alternation between two or more languages within a conversation or discourse—is a widely observed linguistic behavior among bilingual and multilingual speakers. Far from being random or indicative of linguistic incompetence, code-switching reflects complex cognitive, social, and cultural processes. This study investigates the frequency, structural types, and communicative functions of code-switching in informal spoken discourse among English-Spanish bilingual university students. The research was conducted at a multilingual university where both English and Spanish are commonly used in academic and social settings. Data were gathered through naturalistic observation and audio recordings of 20 informal peer-group conversations, which were then transcribed and analyzed.

References

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Hayitova, S. (2024). Innovative Approaches to Teaching English in Uzbekistan: aTESOL Perspective. International Multi-disciplinary Journal of Education, 2(10), 218-220.