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While some linguists view 'code-switching'—the practice of alternating between languages in conversation—as a sign of linguistic deficiency, contemporary research suggests otherwise. It is a sophisticated cognitive tool used by bilingual speakers to navigate complex social identities and emphasize specific meanings. Rather than a failure to master one language, it represents a mastery of two systems used in tandem.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
- Bilingual speakers frequently alternate between languages during informal conversations.
- Code-switching proves that a speaker has failed to fully master their primary language.
- Code-switching is a refined skill that lets speakers express social and semantic nuances.
- Code-switching is the most important linguistic development in modern history.
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