Re: code-switching (was: Re: The Conlang Instinct)

Nik Taylor wrote:
>
> What I find most fascinating about code-switching to me is the seemingly
> random nature.  I remember hearing my Arabic-speaking neighbor on the
> phone in such phrases like "[Arabic] over the holidays [Arabic] next
> September" or something along those lines.  Sometimes I wonder if when
> I'm around he uses more Arabic than when I'm not there ... :-)
>
        In France, most Arabic-speaking people very often code-switch.
Code-switching appears very consistently when they use numbers, or name
the day in the calendar. Apparently words for politeness ("merci",
"s'il-vous-plait", etc...) also always appear in French... as well as
insults! :) Interesting...

> --
> "Old linguists never die - they just come to voiceless stops." -
> anonymous
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