One Speaker, Two Languages: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives on Code-Switching

Description

Code-switching--the alternating use of several languages by bilingual speakers--does not usually indicate lack of competence on the part of the speaker, but results from complex language skills. The reasons why people switch their codes are as varied as the directions from which linguists approach this issue. This volume of essays by leading scholars explores code-switching in particular social and institutional contexts, and brings together current research into the social, grammatical and psycholinguistic issues raised by this highly significant form of speech behavior.

Pieter Muysken is Professor of Linguistics at Radboud University Nijmegen, after previously teaching at the universities of Amsterdam and Leiden. His specialism is language contact and he does research in the Andes, the Caribbean and the Netherlands.

"...brings together an excellent representative collection of theoretical essays on bilingual code-switching...the breadth of the research areas...makes this volume worthwhile reading...a valuable collection." Rocky Mountain Review "...this volume represents an excellent state of theart overview of recent theoretical approaches to code switching from several different perspectives. Any linguist interested in the way bilinguals mix languages would benefit from reading it." Richard Nivens, Notes on Linguistics "...comprehensive coverage of such a complex field of inquiry...It presents a clear step forward." Journal of Linguistic Anthropology