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

grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com writes:
>        I remember also an anecdote that happened to me one month ago
>when I
>was in holidays with my parents. I was talking to my sister and suddenly
>I heard myself answering to her by a "of course!" instead of "bien su^r
>!". And I nearly only swear in English now :) .

Tagalog speakers I have noticed (and Filipinos in general) do quite a bit
of code switching. Most of it happens when they come to a word or concept
that is a mouthful in Tagalog, or is just better expressed by an English
word.

I also tend to throw in Spanish words or phrases when i'm chatting with
friends who know some Spanish. I'll say things like: "You talked to your
professor, que no?". It's really more more of a slang thing with me
(picked it up from my friend Ann who does it all the time), ir I'll throw
in whole sentences sometimes.