The frequency and function of code-switching in a Korean-English bilingual child: a case study

The number of bilinguals who acquire their two languages at an early age is increasing in line with the global increase of international families due to immigration. This increase makes the investigation of bilingualism of much research interest. Code-switching (CS), a common bilingual practice of alternating between languages, is often studied as a means to gauge the language development of young bilinguals. As every bilingual experience is unique due to different amounts of exposure, language learning experiences, or socio-economic status, it is important to investigate different groups of bilingual children to understand their development of CS, and to find the factors that CS is associated with. The purpose of the study is to explore the frequency, type, and functions of CS in a Korean-English bilingual two-year-old child in an immigrant context. The study investigates whether the frequency and direction of switching are correlated to a child’s developing mean length of utterance (MLU) and further explores the underlying reasons and functions that CS serves. Through the investigation, the study aims to contribute to the field of bilingual language development, especially in the context of Korean-English toddlers acquiring their languages in an immigrant context, which has not been extensively researched. The research adopts a case study method in which the participant, Suri, engages in play sessions with her parents. Findings revealed that the frequency and directionality of CS are likely to be aligned with language dominance: while the child receives less exposure to English in her environment, her MLU in English is higher, and CS was found primarily from Korean to English. Additional reasons for the asymmetric presence of CS were explored (e.g., in terms of socio-cultural context). The study also explored the specific functions and reasons underlying the instances of CS. Compared to Korean-to-English CS, English-to-Korean CS displayed higher percentages of lexical and syntactic gap filling, which is a necessity-driven reason for CS. In both directions, preferences driven by contexts were the most predominant reasons for switching. In addition, instances of metalinguistic awareness were investigated with an aim to see whether Suri was code-switching as a result of confusion between the languages. Signs of language differentiation were demonstrated, indicating that CS was not a sign of confusion. Instead, CS served as a language practice to demonstrate preference, overcome linguistic deficiencies, and use familiar expressions, all aimed toward higher fluency to enrich communication.