Case Analysis of Cognitive Switch Between Chinese and English Languages

Case Analysis of Cognitive Switch Between Chinese and English Languages

Author: Zhong Chen

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Published: 2016-08-29

Total Pages: 115

ISBN-13: 1524534080

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The Chinese language contains a set of mind-sets that differ from those in English. Such differences between languages require mind-set conversion in cross-cultural communication. In applying cognitive linguistic theories to examining cross-cultural communication cases, this book explores cognitive mind-sets in English and Chinese as well as the processes of converting them from one language to another. It focuses on the principles by which a language selects its cognitive perspective based on its cultural convention, perception, and the conventional ways of representation of the world. In analyzing the linguistic rules and culturally driven cognitive motivation through an issue-driven and case study approach, this book helps students and other readers understand better the cross-cultural cognitive motivation between English and Chinese. In so doing, this book aims at enhancing the interest level and study efficacy for foreign language learning. This book can serve as a reference for instructors in syllabus designing as well as for linguistic professional training. The book is also suitable to be used as a reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in linguistics, translation, and teaching Chinese as foreign language to speakers of other languages. Finally, it can be a useful reference for undergraduates who learn Chinese as a foreign language.


Book Synopsis Case Analysis of Cognitive Switch Between Chinese and English Languages by : Zhong Chen

Download or read book Case Analysis of Cognitive Switch Between Chinese and English Languages written by Zhong Chen and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2016-08-29 with total page 115 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Chinese language contains a set of mind-sets that differ from those in English. Such differences between languages require mind-set conversion in cross-cultural communication. In applying cognitive linguistic theories to examining cross-cultural communication cases, this book explores cognitive mind-sets in English and Chinese as well as the processes of converting them from one language to another. It focuses on the principles by which a language selects its cognitive perspective based on its cultural convention, perception, and the conventional ways of representation of the world. In analyzing the linguistic rules and culturally driven cognitive motivation through an issue-driven and case study approach, this book helps students and other readers understand better the cross-cultural cognitive motivation between English and Chinese. In so doing, this book aims at enhancing the interest level and study efficacy for foreign language learning. This book can serve as a reference for instructors in syllabus designing as well as for linguistic professional training. The book is also suitable to be used as a reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in linguistics, translation, and teaching Chinese as foreign language to speakers of other languages. Finally, it can be a useful reference for undergraduates who learn Chinese as a foreign language.

English/Mandarin Code-switching in the United States: A Case Study of a Northern California Chinese Language School

English/Mandarin Code-switching in the United States: A Case Study of a Northern California Chinese Language School

Author: Jiayin Gao

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13:

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Code-switching is an inevitable and interesting topic in a multilingual and multicultural educational setting. However, few studies in the United States have been investigated Chinese/English alternation among young students. This qualitative case study examined the code-switching practice among four second-grade Chinese-English bilingual students studying in a weekend Chinese language school. This study brings a new perspective to code-switching between an alphabetic language and a non-alphabetic language. The conversations between students, teachers and among students themselves were audio-recorded. Nine data collection sessions were implemented in class and each session was about two hours. Interpretative analysis was the main data analysis method. Four types of code-switching were found in this study, specifically, students used tag-switching, intra-sentential switching, inter-sentential switching, and borrowing. Five functions of code-switching were observed, declarative/question shift, crutching, translation, clarification/emphasis, and expressive. The research shows that in the case of Chinese American bilingual children's code-switching usage for social identity, desire, expression, and emotion, code-switching functions observed in this Northern California case study are found to be similar to other code-switching populations. This research indicates that students in this Northern California case study code-switched less than other code-switching populations, for example, English-Spanish bilinguals.


Book Synopsis English/Mandarin Code-switching in the United States: A Case Study of a Northern California Chinese Language School by : Jiayin Gao

Download or read book English/Mandarin Code-switching in the United States: A Case Study of a Northern California Chinese Language School written by Jiayin Gao and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Code-switching is an inevitable and interesting topic in a multilingual and multicultural educational setting. However, few studies in the United States have been investigated Chinese/English alternation among young students. This qualitative case study examined the code-switching practice among four second-grade Chinese-English bilingual students studying in a weekend Chinese language school. This study brings a new perspective to code-switching between an alphabetic language and a non-alphabetic language. The conversations between students, teachers and among students themselves were audio-recorded. Nine data collection sessions were implemented in class and each session was about two hours. Interpretative analysis was the main data analysis method. Four types of code-switching were found in this study, specifically, students used tag-switching, intra-sentential switching, inter-sentential switching, and borrowing. Five functions of code-switching were observed, declarative/question shift, crutching, translation, clarification/emphasis, and expressive. The research shows that in the case of Chinese American bilingual children's code-switching usage for social identity, desire, expression, and emotion, code-switching functions observed in this Northern California case study are found to be similar to other code-switching populations. This research indicates that students in this Northern California case study code-switched less than other code-switching populations, for example, English-Spanish bilinguals.

Bilingualism and Cognitive Control

Bilingualism and Cognitive Control

Author: Ramesh Kumar Mishra

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-07-20

Total Pages: 185

ISBN-13: 331992513X

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This thought-provoking monograph makes a multidisciplinary case for bilingualism as a possible enhancer of executive function, particularly cognitive control. Its central focus is the cognitive operations of the bilingual brain in processing two languages and whether they afford the brain a greater edge on neuroplasticity—in short, a cognitive advantage. Major issues and controversies in the debate are analyzed from cognitive neuroscience, psycholinguistic, and integrative perspectives, with attention paid to commonly and rarely studied domains at work in bilingual processing. The author also pinpoints future areas for improved research such as recognizing the diversity of bilingualism, not simply in languages spoken but also in social context, as seen among immigrants and refugees. Included in the coverage: The evolution of bilingualism. What goes on in a bilingual mind? The core cognitive mechanisms. Cognitive advantage of bilingualism and its criticisms. Neuroscience of bilingualism. Bilingualism, context, and control. Attention, vision, and control in bilinguals. With its cogent takes on ongoing questions and emerging issues, Bilingualism and Cognitive Control is of immediate interest to bilingual researchers and practitioners interested in understanding the behavioral aspects and neurobiology of bilingualism and the dynamic character of the bilingual/multilingual/second language learner’s mind, as well as the growing number of advanced undergraduate and graduate students interested in the psychology/psycholinguistics of bilingualism, bilingual cognitive psychology, cognitive science, and cognitive neuroscience.


Book Synopsis Bilingualism and Cognitive Control by : Ramesh Kumar Mishra

Download or read book Bilingualism and Cognitive Control written by Ramesh Kumar Mishra and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-07-20 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thought-provoking monograph makes a multidisciplinary case for bilingualism as a possible enhancer of executive function, particularly cognitive control. Its central focus is the cognitive operations of the bilingual brain in processing two languages and whether they afford the brain a greater edge on neuroplasticity—in short, a cognitive advantage. Major issues and controversies in the debate are analyzed from cognitive neuroscience, psycholinguistic, and integrative perspectives, with attention paid to commonly and rarely studied domains at work in bilingual processing. The author also pinpoints future areas for improved research such as recognizing the diversity of bilingualism, not simply in languages spoken but also in social context, as seen among immigrants and refugees. Included in the coverage: The evolution of bilingualism. What goes on in a bilingual mind? The core cognitive mechanisms. Cognitive advantage of bilingualism and its criticisms. Neuroscience of bilingualism. Bilingualism, context, and control. Attention, vision, and control in bilinguals. With its cogent takes on ongoing questions and emerging issues, Bilingualism and Cognitive Control is of immediate interest to bilingual researchers and practitioners interested in understanding the behavioral aspects and neurobiology of bilingualism and the dynamic character of the bilingual/multilingual/second language learner’s mind, as well as the growing number of advanced undergraduate and graduate students interested in the psychology/psycholinguistics of bilingualism, bilingual cognitive psychology, cognitive science, and cognitive neuroscience.

CROSS-CULTURAL CASE STUDIES OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH COGNITIVE CONVERSION

CROSS-CULTURAL CASE STUDIES OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH COGNITIVE CONVERSION

Author: CHEN ZHONG

Publisher: American Academic Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 126

ISBN-13: 1631817140

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The Chinese language contains cognitive stereotypes that are different from those of English. Such linguistic differences between Chinese and English require cognitive conversion in cross-cultural communication. Inapplying cognitive linguistic theories to examining cross-cultural communication cases, this book explores cognitive stereotypes in English and Chinese as well as the processes of converting them from one language to the other. It focuses on the principles by which a language selects its cognitive perspective based on its cultural traditions, perception, and representation of the world. In analyzing the linguistic rules and culturally driven cognitive motivation through an issue-driven and case-study approach, this book can help students understand the cross-cultural cognitive motivation between English and Chinese. In so doing, it is hoped that this book can enhance the interest level and study efficacy for foreign language learning. This book can serve as a reference for instructors in syllabus designing, as well as for linguistic professional training. The book is also suitable to be used as a reference for undergraduate andpostgraduate students majoring in linguistics, translation, and teaching Chinese as foreign language to speakers of other languages. Finally, it can be a useful reference for undergraduates who learn Chinese as a foreign language.


Book Synopsis CROSS-CULTURAL CASE STUDIES OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH COGNITIVE CONVERSION by : CHEN ZHONG

Download or read book CROSS-CULTURAL CASE STUDIES OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH COGNITIVE CONVERSION written by CHEN ZHONG and published by American Academic Press. This book was released on 2014 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Chinese language contains cognitive stereotypes that are different from those of English. Such linguistic differences between Chinese and English require cognitive conversion in cross-cultural communication. Inapplying cognitive linguistic theories to examining cross-cultural communication cases, this book explores cognitive stereotypes in English and Chinese as well as the processes of converting them from one language to the other. It focuses on the principles by which a language selects its cognitive perspective based on its cultural traditions, perception, and representation of the world. In analyzing the linguistic rules and culturally driven cognitive motivation through an issue-driven and case-study approach, this book can help students understand the cross-cultural cognitive motivation between English and Chinese. In so doing, it is hoped that this book can enhance the interest level and study efficacy for foreign language learning. This book can serve as a reference for instructors in syllabus designing, as well as for linguistic professional training. The book is also suitable to be used as a reference for undergraduate andpostgraduate students majoring in linguistics, translation, and teaching Chinese as foreign language to speakers of other languages. Finally, it can be a useful reference for undergraduates who learn Chinese as a foreign language.

The Handbook of Language Contact

The Handbook of Language Contact

Author: Raymond Hickey

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2020-09-01

Total Pages: 800

ISBN-13: 1119485061

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The second edition of the definitive reference on contact studies and linguistic change—provides extensive new research and original case studies Language contact is a dynamic area of contemporary linguistic research that studies how language changes when speakers of different languages interact. Accessibly structured into three sections, The Handbook of Language Contact explores the role of contact studies within the field of linguistics, the value of contact studies for language change research, and the relevance of language contact for sociolinguistics. This authoritative volume presents original findings and fresh research directions from an international team of prominent experts. Thirty-seven specially-commissioned chapters cover a broad range of topics and case studies of contact from around the world. Now in its second edition, this valuable reference has been extensively updated with new chapters on topics including globalization, language acquisition, creolization, code-switching, and genetic classification. Fresh case studies examine Romance, Indo-European, African, Mayan, and many other languages in both the past and the present. Addressing the major issues in the field of language contact studies, this volume: Includes a representative sample of individual studies which re-evaluate the role of language contact in the broader context of language and society Offers 23 new chapters written by leading scholars Examines language contact in different societies, including many in Africa and Asia Provides a cross-section of case studies drawing on languages across the world The Handbook of Language Contact, Second Edition is an indispensable resource for researchers, scholars, and students involved in language contact, language variation and change, sociolinguistics, bilingualism, and language theory.


Book Synopsis The Handbook of Language Contact by : Raymond Hickey

Download or read book The Handbook of Language Contact written by Raymond Hickey and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2020-09-01 with total page 800 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The second edition of the definitive reference on contact studies and linguistic change—provides extensive new research and original case studies Language contact is a dynamic area of contemporary linguistic research that studies how language changes when speakers of different languages interact. Accessibly structured into three sections, The Handbook of Language Contact explores the role of contact studies within the field of linguistics, the value of contact studies for language change research, and the relevance of language contact for sociolinguistics. This authoritative volume presents original findings and fresh research directions from an international team of prominent experts. Thirty-seven specially-commissioned chapters cover a broad range of topics and case studies of contact from around the world. Now in its second edition, this valuable reference has been extensively updated with new chapters on topics including globalization, language acquisition, creolization, code-switching, and genetic classification. Fresh case studies examine Romance, Indo-European, African, Mayan, and many other languages in both the past and the present. Addressing the major issues in the field of language contact studies, this volume: Includes a representative sample of individual studies which re-evaluate the role of language contact in the broader context of language and society Offers 23 new chapters written by leading scholars Examines language contact in different societies, including many in Africa and Asia Provides a cross-section of case studies drawing on languages across the world The Handbook of Language Contact, Second Edition is an indispensable resource for researchers, scholars, and students involved in language contact, language variation and change, sociolinguistics, bilingualism, and language theory.

Chinese Language Narration

Chinese Language Narration

Author: Allyssa McCabe

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 2013-11-15

Total Pages: 223

ISBN-13: 9027271097

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Chinese Language Narration: Culture, cognition, and emotion is a collection of papers presenting original research on narration in Mandarin, especially as it contrasts to what is known regarding narration in English. One chapter addresses dinner table conversation between Chinese immigrant parents and children in the United States compared to non-immigrant peers. Other chapters consider evaluation patterns in Mandarin versus English, referencing strategies, coherence patterns, socioeconomic differences among Taiwanese Mandarin-speaking children, and differences in narration due to Specific Language Impairment and schizophrenia. Several chapters address developmental concerns. Distinctive aspects of narration in Mandarin are linked to larger issues of autobiographical memory. Mandarin is spoken by far more people than any other language, yet narration in this language has received notably less attention than narration in Western languages. This collective effort is a critical addition to our understanding of cross-cultural similarities and differences in how people make sense of experiences through narrative.


Book Synopsis Chinese Language Narration by : Allyssa McCabe

Download or read book Chinese Language Narration written by Allyssa McCabe and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2013-11-15 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chinese Language Narration: Culture, cognition, and emotion is a collection of papers presenting original research on narration in Mandarin, especially as it contrasts to what is known regarding narration in English. One chapter addresses dinner table conversation between Chinese immigrant parents and children in the United States compared to non-immigrant peers. Other chapters consider evaluation patterns in Mandarin versus English, referencing strategies, coherence patterns, socioeconomic differences among Taiwanese Mandarin-speaking children, and differences in narration due to Specific Language Impairment and schizophrenia. Several chapters address developmental concerns. Distinctive aspects of narration in Mandarin are linked to larger issues of autobiographical memory. Mandarin is spoken by far more people than any other language, yet narration in this language has received notably less attention than narration in Western languages. This collective effort is a critical addition to our understanding of cross-cultural similarities and differences in how people make sense of experiences through narrative.

Language Acquisition Across Linguistic and Cognitive Systems

Language Acquisition Across Linguistic and Cognitive Systems

Author: Michèle Kail

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 9027253145

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How and why do all children learn language? Why do some have difficulties while others are early language learners? What are the consequences of early bilingualism? Is it possible to reach native-like competence in a foreign language? Although we still cannot fully answer these questions, research during the last two decades has begun to solve some pieces of the puzzle. This book proposes an interdisciplinary collection of writings from some of the best specialists across several fields in cognitive science, offering a wide sample of recent advances in the study of first language acquisition, bilingualism, second language acquisition, and disorders of oral language. It is addressed to all researchers and students interested in language acquisition, as well as to teachers, clinicians and parents, who will find therein many new findings and varied methodological approaches, as well as challenging questions that are still debated and in need of further research.


Book Synopsis Language Acquisition Across Linguistic and Cognitive Systems by : Michèle Kail

Download or read book Language Acquisition Across Linguistic and Cognitive Systems written by Michèle Kail and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2010 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How and why do all children learn language? Why do some have difficulties while others are early language learners? What are the consequences of early bilingualism? Is it possible to reach native-like competence in a foreign language? Although we still cannot fully answer these questions, research during the last two decades has begun to solve some pieces of the puzzle. This book proposes an interdisciplinary collection of writings from some of the best specialists across several fields in cognitive science, offering a wide sample of recent advances in the study of first language acquisition, bilingualism, second language acquisition, and disorders of oral language. It is addressed to all researchers and students interested in language acquisition, as well as to teachers, clinicians and parents, who will find therein many new findings and varied methodological approaches, as well as challenging questions that are still debated and in need of further research.

Teaching Writing in English as a Foreign Language

Teaching Writing in English as a Foreign Language

Author: Huan Zhao

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2022-05-30

Total Pages: 193

ISBN-13: 3030999912

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This book explores teachers’ cognitions about the teaching of writing in English as a foreign language (EFL) and their teaching practice, as well as factors influencing the formation and reformation process of their cognition. Taking stock of Bakhtin’s dialogism as the theoretical framework, the authors argue that the formation and reformation of teacher cognition is a dialogic process. A systematic analysis of participating teachers’ cognition formation and re-formation process suggests the highly individual nature of teachers’ cognitions. EFL researchers and teachers, teacher educators, teacher education policymakers, university administrators and EFL textbook writers could draw on the findings of the study to provide better resources to implement the teaching of EFL writing more effectively. The study has adopted a mixed-methods approach, whose quantitative results show the patterns and differences of teacher cognition among teachers of different backgrounds and with different schooling, education and working experiences. The qualitative findings show in detail teachers' cognition formation and reformation processes and the factors contributing to such processes, revealing convergence and divergence of teachers’ stated cognitions, with a focus on the discrepancy between teacher cognition and teaching practice. These are useful lenses through which researchers and teachers will find significant implications for offering EFL writing instruction more effectively.


Book Synopsis Teaching Writing in English as a Foreign Language by : Huan Zhao

Download or read book Teaching Writing in English as a Foreign Language written by Huan Zhao and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-05-30 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores teachers’ cognitions about the teaching of writing in English as a foreign language (EFL) and their teaching practice, as well as factors influencing the formation and reformation process of their cognition. Taking stock of Bakhtin’s dialogism as the theoretical framework, the authors argue that the formation and reformation of teacher cognition is a dialogic process. A systematic analysis of participating teachers’ cognition formation and re-formation process suggests the highly individual nature of teachers’ cognitions. EFL researchers and teachers, teacher educators, teacher education policymakers, university administrators and EFL textbook writers could draw on the findings of the study to provide better resources to implement the teaching of EFL writing more effectively. The study has adopted a mixed-methods approach, whose quantitative results show the patterns and differences of teacher cognition among teachers of different backgrounds and with different schooling, education and working experiences. The qualitative findings show in detail teachers' cognition formation and reformation processes and the factors contributing to such processes, revealing convergence and divergence of teachers’ stated cognitions, with a focus on the discrepancy between teacher cognition and teaching practice. These are useful lenses through which researchers and teachers will find significant implications for offering EFL writing instruction more effectively.

Rethinking EMI

Rethinking EMI

Author: Lily I-Wen Su

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-06-10

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 1000411052

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Due to the competitive edge it confers on students, educational institutions, and non-English speaking nations in a globalized economy, English as a medium of instruction (EMI) has been gaining popularity in tertiary education in non-native English-speaking (NNES) countries. Institute-wide EMI implementation has often been imposed by top-down decisions, in combination with the optimistic view that the horse should always be placed before the cart. However, emerging evidence suggests that the delivery of such programs to NNES students has led to new pedagogical challenges and learning problems that go beyond the scope of language learning and teaching and deserve immediate attention. For example, how would an instructor respond to situations in which students’ learning of content is compromised by their limited language proficiency? This book draws on the current practice of EMI in diverse disciplines and university settings and examines how these new pedagogical and learning issues can be addressed. The discussion also involves a reflection on the essence of EMI in relation to the use of the first language (L1) as the medium of instruction in tertiary education. In addition, the book includes discussion about how to ensure and maintain the quality of EMI programs and assess the readiness of stakeholders for such programs, which include administrators, teachers, and students. The discussion is led by exemplars in Hong Kong and Taiwan, where the majority of students are native Chinese speakers, in the hope of developing critical perspectives and practical guidelines as references for EMI in other NNES settings. “The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/ISBN, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.


Book Synopsis Rethinking EMI by : Lily I-Wen Su

Download or read book Rethinking EMI written by Lily I-Wen Su and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-06-10 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Due to the competitive edge it confers on students, educational institutions, and non-English speaking nations in a globalized economy, English as a medium of instruction (EMI) has been gaining popularity in tertiary education in non-native English-speaking (NNES) countries. Institute-wide EMI implementation has often been imposed by top-down decisions, in combination with the optimistic view that the horse should always be placed before the cart. However, emerging evidence suggests that the delivery of such programs to NNES students has led to new pedagogical challenges and learning problems that go beyond the scope of language learning and teaching and deserve immediate attention. For example, how would an instructor respond to situations in which students’ learning of content is compromised by their limited language proficiency? This book draws on the current practice of EMI in diverse disciplines and university settings and examines how these new pedagogical and learning issues can be addressed. The discussion also involves a reflection on the essence of EMI in relation to the use of the first language (L1) as the medium of instruction in tertiary education. In addition, the book includes discussion about how to ensure and maintain the quality of EMI programs and assess the readiness of stakeholders for such programs, which include administrators, teachers, and students. The discussion is led by exemplars in Hong Kong and Taiwan, where the majority of students are native Chinese speakers, in the hope of developing critical perspectives and practical guidelines as references for EMI in other NNES settings. “The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/ISBN, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Code-switching

Code-switching

Author: Penelope Gardner-Chloros

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2009-06-25

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 1139478354

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It is quite commonplace for bilingual speakers to use two or more languages, dialects or varieties in the same conversation, without any apparent effort. The phenomenon, known as code-switching, has become a major focus of attention in linguistics. This concise and original study explores how, when and where code-switching occurs. Drawing on a diverse range of examples from medieval manuscripts to rap music, novels to advertisements, emails to political speeches, and above all everyday conversation, it argues that code-switching can only be properly understood if we study it from a variety of perspectives. It shows how sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, grammatical and developmental aspects of code-switching are all interdependent, and findings in each area are crucial to others. Breaking down barriers across the discipline of linguistics, this pioneering book confronts fundamental questions about what a 'native language' is, and whether languages can be meaningfully studied outside of the individuals who use them.


Book Synopsis Code-switching by : Penelope Gardner-Chloros

Download or read book Code-switching written by Penelope Gardner-Chloros and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2009-06-25 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is quite commonplace for bilingual speakers to use two or more languages, dialects or varieties in the same conversation, without any apparent effort. The phenomenon, known as code-switching, has become a major focus of attention in linguistics. This concise and original study explores how, when and where code-switching occurs. Drawing on a diverse range of examples from medieval manuscripts to rap music, novels to advertisements, emails to political speeches, and above all everyday conversation, it argues that code-switching can only be properly understood if we study it from a variety of perspectives. It shows how sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, grammatical and developmental aspects of code-switching are all interdependent, and findings in each area are crucial to others. Breaking down barriers across the discipline of linguistics, this pioneering book confronts fundamental questions about what a 'native language' is, and whether languages can be meaningfully studied outside of the individuals who use them.