Code switching is the practice of adjusting one’s speech or writing depending on the circumstances or audience. While some code switching can occur between languages, more often, it arises in variances of dialect or even slang.
For instance, imagine a lawyer speaking before a judge. People generally understand that this lawyer would do well to speak formally and politely rather than to say, “This is bogus, and the guy I’m defending didn’t do anything.” Instead, what people expect from a lawyer is: “The claims against my client are unsubstantiated, and he holds no liability for the outcome of the situation.” When a person adjusts the formality, tone, and polish of their speech according to their environment or the person to whom they are speaking, that is code switching.
Code switching is a regular part of everyday life for many people. As such, it is an authentic linguistic phenomenon that often comes with no ulterior motive. However, the sense of acceptance that can be garnered by code switching into an audience’s preferred dialect or tone can be used for selfish gains or hidden agendas. That being said, code switching in and of itself is not an inherently problematic behavior; in fact, it is expected.
Code Switching as a Skill
Code switching is a valuable skill for anyone to master, and those whose identities bridge multiple disparate communities are even better served for using it. Code switching allows individuals to survive—such as how enslaved Black men and women spoke their native vernacular to each other but avoided it when engaging with white slave owners. From intentionally obfuscating one’s identity to fitting in more seamlessly in a new place, code switching equips people with one survival mechanism they can use to achieve success or find an identity in more than one community.
Similarly, code switching is a professional skill. Gifted public speakers, coaches, and others in a position of power are often considered influential or impactful because they understand how to resonate with each person to whom they speak. This constant shifting and adjusting of one’s linguistic persona helps people connect with each other and can lead to greater professional success. For many, code switching is an exchange: I will speak and act in a way that makes you comfortable so that you will give me employment, high-quality service, or fairness in an engagement.
Still, some see code switching as an erosion of authenticity. US presidential candidate Kamala Harris is experiencing backlash for her ability to code switch depending on the demographic to whom she is speaking; Harris’ Black English speech in Atlanta has come under fire for its contrast to her “lawyer speak” in predominantly white neighborhoods. As a Black person herself, Kamala’s code switching is not unexpected, though it took many opponents by surprise despite her mixed Jamaican and Indian ancestry.
Maintaining Balance Between Identities
In the case of Kamala Harris and millions of other individuals navigating life across multiple demographic, cultural, or linguistic niches, code switching can be both a positive and a negative. While it allows an individual to more closely connect with more people, it can also foster distrust in those who are not the target audience.
Another challenge faced by those who want to (or must) code switch regularly is the balance in their identities. If an Indian immigrant to the United States is forced to code switch into business English for the majority of their waking lives, they may lose something valuable from their native language and culture due to consistent lack of use. Increasing multicultural opportunities for people to embrace the many aspects that make them who they are is the best environment to support enriching and valuable code switching and give it the place it deserves among people’s linguistic repertoire.
