"Code Switching" in Sociocultural Linguistics

Chad Nilep

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Abstract. This paper reviews a brief portion of the literature on code switching in sociology, linguistic anthropology, and sociolinguistics, and suggests a definition of the term for sociocultural analysis. Code switching is defined as the practice of selecting or altering linguistic elements so as to contextualize talk in interaction. This contextualization may relate to local discourse practices, such as turn selection or various forms of bracketing, or it may make relevant information beyond the current exchange, including knowledge of society and diverse identities.

Chad Nilep is a doctoral student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Colorado. He can be reached at chad.nilep@colorado.edu.

Colorado Research in Linguistics - Volume 19, Issue 1 - June 2006