Code-mixing : linguistic form and socio-cultural meaning

Code-mixing is the change of one language to another within the same utterance or in the same oral/ written text. It is a common phenomenon in societies in which two or more languages are used. Studies of code-mixing enhance our understanding of the nature, processes and constraints of language (Myers-Scotton, 1993a; Boeschoten, 1998; Azuma, 1998), and of the relationship between language use and individual values, communicative strategies, language attitudes and functions within particular socio-cultural contexts. (Auer, 1998; Jacobson, 1998; Myers-Scotton, 1993b; Ludi, 2003)