Code Switching and Code Mixing by
Spanish Heritage Speakers in
Computer Mediated
Communication (CMC)
By Maria Paternain
Background
 34.5 millions speakers of Spanish in the
United States( 2007 census).
 40% are foreign-born and 60 % are born in
the USA.
 Code switching is common in bilingual
communities since it is considered a sign of
identity and belonging to the Latino
community without giving up one language
for the other (Zentella, 1997, p.114)
Important concepts
 Spanish Heritage speaker: A student who
is raised in a home where a non-English
language is spoken, who speaks or at least
understands the language, and who is to
some degree bilingual in that language and
in English (Valdes, 2001).
 Functional bilinguals
 They often do not develop age-appropriate
levels of literacy, vocabulary, and grammatical
systems in Spanish.
Code Switching
 Code switching or inter-sentential code-alternation
occurs when a bilingual speaker uses more than one
language in a single utterance above the clause level to
appropriately convey his/her intents” (Cardenas and
Isharyanti, 2009, p.68).
H: Can you see me now?
A: It is just... it is the loading sign… Can you see
me?
H: Bueno, ahorita yo no te puedo ver (Well,
now I can’t see you).
Code Mixing
Code mixing or intra-sentential code
switching or intra-sentential code-alternation,
occurs when speakers use two or more
languages below clause level within one social
situation” (Cardenas and Isharyanti, 2009,
p.68)
Insertion
Alternation
Congruent Lexicalization
 Insertion
J: Pues como dijo la otra, primero vamos a ir
a Buckhead donde vive Javier. A que horas
llega el Megabus? (As the other one said,
first we go to Buckhead where Javier lives.
When does the Megabus arrive?
Alternation
H: ¿Qué vas a llevar? Chris, ¿Sabes lo
que lleva ella? I don’t know what to
take. (What are you going to take?
Chris, do you know what she is
taking? I don’t know what to take)
Congruent Lexicalization
H: Cleveland block party era weird
porque era en Halloween… es cuando
sale la weird people, (Cleveland block
party was weird because it was in
Halloween… it is when weird people go
out)
Rationale
This study will help to:
 Understand current linguistic practices of
Spanish heritage speakers in CMC.
 Identify the functions that code switching
and code mixing play in CMC.
 Recognize the code mixing patterns that
Spanish heritage speakers
use in CMC.
 Discover the impact of the use of
different modes of communication
in CMC.
Research Questions
 Do participants use the same language as the
other participant even when he or she has
code-switched in the previous turn?
 What functions of the language seem to
switch the most?
 What is the most frequent code mixing
category in which participants mix languages?
 Does the mode of interaction have
an effect on code switching?
Research Methods
Interactions take place via Skype
(Synchronous)
 Videoconference
 Written chat
Topic: The weekend/random
Language: Spanish and English
Data collection:
 Skype
 Audio – tape
Data Analysis
 Transcription of data word by word (30 min).
 Identification of instances of code switching
and code mixing:
 Patterns: Insertion, alternation, and congruent
lexicalization.
 Participant 1-initiated switching not followed by
participant 2.
 Participant 1-initiated switching followed by
participant 2.
 Functions.
Participants
• The sample selection criteria for the study
are as follows:
(1) College student
(2) Resident in the United States
(3) Spanish heritage
(4) Bilingual in English and Spanish
(5) Use of “Spanglish” when talking to
other Hispanic heritage individuals.
Participant Sample
Participant
Heritage
Age
Current Major
Generation
English
in USA
Proficiency
Spanish
Proficiency
Adriana
Mexican
21
Biology/ Predentistry
1st
Fluent
Native
Helena
Mexican
21
Biochemistry
2nd
Native
Functional
Spanish
speaker
Jane
Mexican
21
Biochemistry
2nd
Native
Functional
Spanish
Speaker
Findings
1. Do participants use the same language as
the other participant even when he or she
has code switched in the previous turn?
 Via videoconference: 73 times


Followed by participant 52: (71%)
Not followed by participant: 21 (29%)
 Via written chat: 25 times


Followed by participant: 16 (64%)
Not followed by participant: 9 (36%)
Example of participant-initiated code switching followed
by the other participant
A: Pues ay! Helena yo no he hecho, no… siempre tengo
tarea (So, ay! Helena, I haven’t done, no… I always have
homework)
H: Adriana, you turn 21 in 4 hours
A: I know.
Example of participant-initiated code switching not
followed by the other participant
A: En mayo, el verano (In May, the summer)
H: Are you doing like a study abroad?
A: aha! Otra vez (aha! Again!)
2. What functions of the language
seem to switch the most?
General Functions of Code Switching and
Code Mixing
• Insecurity about the use of a word – fear
to failure - Comfortability
• Not enough time to think – Keep flow of
the conversation
• Identity as a bilingual speaker
Videconference:
 Confirmation (18)
A: Si Jane? Tienes novio francés? (, Really, Jane?
Do you have a French boyfriend?)
J: Yeah
 To index consent or dissent, agreement and
conflict, alignment and distancing, and so on (4)
A: Es un estado, Puebla, la capital es Toluca (It is a
state, Puebla, the capital is Toluca).
H: Oh ok, that’s cool
 To respond to language choices by preceding
contributions (52)
H: ¿Qué es? ¿ Una camisa? (What is that? A shirt?)
A: Have you guys ever had this?
H: Oh my God! Don’t take that! It is bad for you!
 To express something that has not equivalent in the
culture of other languages or when the translations
do not make sense in the particular context (46)
A: and I’ am also taking el lab for Molecular Cell Bio,
Molecular Cell biology,, y Thesiology. Y ustedes?
(and you?)
 To express surprise (6)
A: Oh! Es mañana! (Oh! it is tomorrow!)
J: Oh my God! ¿Tu cumple es mañana? (Oh my god!
Is your birthday tomorrow?
Written chat:
 Confirmation (10)
H: Mmm… pues we kind of have to (So we kind of have to)
J: Está bien (It is ok)
 To respond to language choices by preceding
contributions (16)
H: ¿Cuánto cuesta? (How much is it)
J: Dijo que the vortex is located in midtown y little five guys
(He said that the vortex is located in midtown and little
five guys)
H: Yeah I know
 To express something that has not equivalent in the
culture of other languages or when the translations
do not make sense in the particular context (44)
J: Entonces we take an east west bus […]
(So… we take an east west bus)
3. What is the most frequent code
mixing category in which
participants mix languages?
 Via videoconference:
Alternation: 58 (51%)
Insertion: 47 (40%)
Congruent Lexicalization: 10 (8%)
 Via written chat:
Insertion: 48 (51%)
Alternation: 30 (32%)
Congruent Lexicalization: 16 (17%)
4. Does the mode of interaction have
an effect on code switching?
• Videoconference:
– 3359 words
– Participants tend to follow other participant’s code switch
(71%)
– Functions: Comfort, identity, follow other participant’s choice,
express a concept that has not an equivalent in another
language, confirmation, to index agreement and conflicts, to
express surprise.
– Alternation (51%)
• Written chat:
– 1717 words
– Participants tend to follow other participant’s code switch
(64%)
– Functions: Comfort, identity, follow other participant’s choice,
express a concept that has not an equivalent in another
language, confirmation.
– Insertion (51%)
Implications and Discussions
• IMPACT ON CODE SWITCHING
– Difference on the number of exchanges between oral and
written mode
– Mode: Written chat Insertion Vs Videoconference Alternation
•Inserting a word from one language to another requires
minimal competence at a lexical level, whereas for
alternation and congruent lexicalization individuals need
to fully master the language at grammatical and semantic
levels.
•Written chat: Features of spoken languages (short
sentences, grammatical incorrect sentences, individual
words used in response to complete utterances, among
others), the possibility for alternations and congruent
lexicalization can be limited.
– Topic influence on code switching: Academics/ weekend
planning.
– Context – Life in USA.
Conclusions
• Code switching and code mixing are current
linguistic practices among Spanish heritage
speakers in synchronous CMC.
• Code switching and code mixing are symbols
of identity and belonging to a bilingual
community.
• The numerous instances of code switching
might have an impact on Spanish heritage
speakers’ acquisition of Spanish.