Code-switching among competent bilinguals: a case for linguistic, cultural and group identity?

Abstract

It seems almost axiomatic that code-switching is a haphazard alternation and mixing between two or more languages. The conclusion drawn from this is that this must be a result of language deficiency in most bilingual speech communities where even in formal situations normative pressures still stigmatise this switching. Despite a changed expert opinion in its nature in recent years, a similar assessment is made of it in teaching/learning contexts where it is still related to lack of proficiency.