Code-meshing, Code-switching & Code-mixing
What is Code-meshing?
Suresh Canagarajah belives
in“code meshing as a strategy for merging local varieties with Standard Written English in a move toward gradually pluralizing academic writing and developing
multilingual competence for transnational relationships”
What is Code-switching?
Well, in 1977
Carol Myers-Scott and William Ury defined code switching as the use of
different varieties of English in the same conversation. But others
define it as the mixing of two or more languages in discourse.
What is
Code-mixing?
Code-mixing occurs when using the grammar
patterns, intonation or vocabulary (bound and unbound morphemes) of one
language when speaking another language.
Almost everyone that
speaks two or more languages code-switches or code-mixes, and this change in
the language style is done to fit the audience in terms of communicative
purposes. My son code-switches all day. When he speaks with his friend or with
an adult you can observe changes in the words he uses and even in intonation.
This code-switching occurs when someone changes from one language to another or
within the same language moving from informal to a more formal language or a standard
variety.
A very important
point embedded in code-switching is the ability to recognize when it is
necessary to do it. I did not know that I was code-switching and teaching my
son how to do it, until I came to this program. At first, it was more like this
is the proper way to speak at home, in public places, with his friends and with
our Cuban relatives.
It is very important
for immigrant children whose parents do not speak English to be properly taught
a standard variety of English and more importantly to know how and when to turn
it on and off.
I would like to
know your views about these questions.
Would I be code-switching if I speak English
using gestures, motion (body language) commonly use in my native language?
If a speaker uses newly borrowed words, is he
code-switching?
Dear George,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the questions, I found the first question interesting as it is about code switching and different negotiating tools to communicate.
I think in order to understand whether using gestures and body languages ,while speaking English, can be a form of code switching or not, It is better to know that Languages are not just classified into verbal or oral categories.There are many types of languages and even varieties of languages that are code -switched and understood by different communicative means. if by using body movements, one means to understand and be understood, therefore the main goal of language (communication and negotiation ) is fulfilled, no matter how ! so I think code-switching is a form of negotiation , and as Donhue (2004) mentioned, there are some code-switching strategies to negotiate among which physical displays play an important role. the examples are "eye contact, smile, expressiveness in facial features, Body posture, movement, gestures, etc..." .these are some of many instances of communication codes, Donhue (2004).
As stated above,I found your first question interesting, apart from its relevance to our classroom discussions last week. I was reading a piece of writing about code-switching the other day which is ,to some extent, related to your raised question.
I find it rather useful to share it with you here.
It said, "A simple example of code switching happens in homes with lots of kids. Parents have many codes for their kids, depending on their goals. A parent will adopt one code to coax their kids to eat more spinach, another to keep them from running in the street, another for reading stories before bedtime, and another to scold them for inappropriate behavior. Parents know how to switch very quickly from scolding a child, to asking a spouse for a favor, to inquiring about homework", Donohue, (2004).
Code switching is a very common skill that many of us learn at home; now what is directly related to your question is to know properly some of the effective code-switching strategies for negotiation purposes and as Donohue (2004) admitted, Physical representations can be regarded as one possible strategies for code switching and negotiation.
Regarding your next question, I think newly borrowed words become part of our language as we use them and it is true that there are many words added to languages. so if these new words are mixed with one or two languages in a discourse, they are code -switched.
Thank you again for raising such challenging questions.
Nasrin
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteNasrin, I liked your quote from Donohue (2004). It made me think about how code-switching can actually involve very subtle changes in modes of communication - ones that we don't think about or would really even notice, if observed. Rather than just limiting the discussion of code-switching to very obvious language mixing/borrowing words, this quote reminds us that it is something that most of us do on an almost continual basis in our daily lives, from speaking with our children to communicating socially, or in the workplace.
Jorge, in regards to your first question, I would say the example you give would indeed be code-switching if we define it as the mixing of two or more languages in discourse. Body language and gestures are forms of communication - forms of communication that can sometimes speak louder than words. I think if you are using non-verbal communication commonly used in one language/community/culture, while using verbal communication from another, this would qualify as code-switching. That's my two cents...Thanks for your engaging questions:)
Hi All,
ReplyDeleteThank you very for your comments.
Hi Jorge,
ReplyDeleteI think body language and gestures are part of code-switching. I guess in that case, you are code-switching on multiple dimensions simultaneously. I think that tone of voice, mannerism, and body language are all part of the linguistic mechanism in speech.
I also want to comment on the importance of knowing when to use code-switch. Code-switching can become a language of its own if it is used frequently enough. Since it is used by relatively small groups of people so if the child wants to communicate effectively with people outside those groups, they must learn to speak proper standard varieties of these languages. Code-switching is not something to practice, it comes naturally to multilinguals so they would probably end up code-switching anyway. I think this is contentious but I support the idea of discerning appropriate time for code-switching.
Hi. Can someone explain to me what is the difference between code switching and code mixing? can you give me samples to elaborate it? please I need it for research. Thank you.
ReplyDeletewhy code switching overlaps to code mixing? what is their connection with each other
ReplyDeleteAnd, is code meshing is just similar with code switching and mixing? and is it just seen as a strategy?
ReplyDelete