How Emotions Affect Code-switching
Keywords:
code switching, emotions, bilingual, multilingualAbstract
This article examines how emotions affect code-switching among bilingual and multilingual speakers. An online questionnaire was conducted to examine the frequency of code-switching, reasons and emotional triggers that cause bilingual and multilingual individuals to switch languages. Based on 46 participants, the result of this questionnaire demonstrates that 61% of them code-switch in their daily lives. Mainly at work, at university, at home or with friends. Results also indicate that most people switch to their native language when they feel anger. Strong feelings like excitement and anger trigger the code-switching process. Participants also reported switching from their native language to English when experiencing excitement. This research shows the connection between code-switching and emotions.
References
Altarriba, J. (2003). Does cariño equal “liking”? A theoretical approach to conceptual nonequivalence between languages. International Journal of Bilingualism, 7(3), 305– 322. https://doi.org/10.1177/13670069030070030501
Crystal Robinson, & Altarriba, J. (2014). The interrelationship between emotion, cognition, and bilingualism. Yearbook of the Poznań Linguistic Meeting, 1, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1515/yplm-2015-0006
Dewaele, J.-M., & Nakano, S. (2012). Multilinguals’ perceptions of feeling different when switching languages. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 34(1), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2012.712133
Pavlenko, A. (2006). Bilingualism and emotions webquestionnaire. In Emotions and Multilingualism (pp. 247–256). appendices, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511584305.010
Myers-Scotton, C. (1993). Common and uncommon ground: Social and structural factors in code-switching. Language in Society, 22(4), 475–503. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500017449
Necef, M. Ü. (1999). The transformation of the culture and language of intimacy. Psyke & Logos, 20, 435–455. https://tidsskrift.dk/psyke/article/view/133596/178705
Pavlenko, A. (Ed.). (2006). Bilingual minds: Emotional experience, expression, and representation. Multilingual Matters.
Poplack, S. (1980). Sometimes I’ll start a sentence in Spanish y termino en español: Toward a typology of code-switching. Linguistics, 18(7–8), 581–618. https://doi.org/10.1515/ling.1980.18.7-8.581
Poplack, S. (2001). Code-switching: Linguistic aspects. In N. J. Smelser & P. B. Baltes (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (pp. 2062–2065). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/03031-X
Whorf, B. L. (1956). Language, thought, and reality: Selected writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf (J. B. Carroll, Ed.). MIT Press. https://archive.org/details/languagethoughtr00whor/page/n11/mode/2up