The Structural Configuration of Linguistic Code-Switching: Examples from Sesotho and English

Abstract

The inquiry investigated the structure and systematicity in bilingual code-switching (CS). It further determined whether grammatical complexity of switches and length of switched utterances can be regarded as an indication of bilingual competence. The study was motivated by perceptions that CS is a “gruesome mixture” of languages in contact; that is, an unsystematic juxtaposition of languages. (Sebopeho-Puo sa Sesotho, 1981:11). The researcher used a sample of standards six and seven pupils from three English-medium, and three dual-medium primary schools in Maseru as respondents or CS performers. Also, two teachers in each school were used as anonymous observers and recorders of the CS corpus. As with previous CS studies, this inquiry has revealed that CS is a structured linguistic performance. Further, it has indicated that advanced or fluent bilingual pupils in English-medium schools produce more grammatically complex switches than less proficient bilinguals in Sesotho-English medium schools, thus indicating that CS is an index of bilingual competence