• grue@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Because the upthread commenter’s definition is bad. It’s more of a social class/racial discrimination thing, with the stereotypical example being about how black people speak differently in a social context among themselves than they do in a professional context with their white boss. (Note that I’m not endorsing the racist implications; I’m explaining what the code-switching is in response to.) I’m not talking about other languages, either; I’m talking about differences in things like word choice and level of grammatical formality that could, at most, be seen as a different dialect of English.

    Being just straight-up bilingual and using different languages in different contexts could maybe be code-switching if there’s an element of social hierarchy involved, but in general is not that.

      • grue@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Are you doing it as a defense mechanism against discrimination and prejudice? Because that’s what code-switching is about.

        • GlendatheGayWitch@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          I don’t know why you’re being down voted. That’s where the term comes from.

          You mostly see it in the US where minorities speak more “white” in order to get/hold jobs and be treated with respect. Body language will change as well. It’s so much more than having a professional face at work and relaxed at home.