Influences on Language Code-switching Induced in a Social Setting

Aims: To examine the phenomenon of bilingual code-switching in an experimental setting and identify language heritage influences related to any observed code-switching.

Study Design: Conversational code-switching has not been examined in an experimental setting before. In this study bilingual (Spanish/English) subjects were interviewed in Spanish. During the interview a non-Spanish-speaking researcher interrupted the proceedings and remained in the room. The interviewer continued the interview in Spanish and noted whether the subject switched from Spanish to English during the remainder of the session.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Psychology, Queens University of Charlotte, January 2015 to April 2015.

Methodology: We included 24 subjects (4 men, 20 women; age range 17-82 years) fluent in both Spanish and English. Subjects conversed with a researcher in Spanish while answering a large number of questions about themselves and their families. After the second researcher entered the interview room speaking English to the interviewer, the interview continued in Spanish and it was noted whether the subject spoke Spanish or code-switched and started using English. At the conclusion of the interview the subjects completed an extensive online survey (in English) about their language and cultural background.

Results: Despite specific instructions to speak only in Spanish, 33% of the 24 subjects were observed code-switching during this study. The code-switchers were found to be significantly older than the non-code switchers (38 years versus 24 years, P = .03). There was a trend that code-switchers were more likely to be community members (P = .05) and to have mothers who were born in the in the United States (P = .05).

Conclusion: Conversational code-switching can be induced under a laboratory setting. This makes it possible to look at social and familial influences related to language and culture to try to predict who is most likely to code-switch.