Multilingualism has manifested itself throughout the world. The most interesting thing about this state of affairs is that it is inevitable because of the increased levels of human interaction across all cultures and language groupings in the world. This has led many monolingual societies accommodate other languages and learn them in order to communicate and interact with other members who do not belong to their language group. This has therefore made bilingualism become very important in our societies.
It is interesting to learn that knowing two languages helps improve communication. In the case of a group of people knowing two or more languages, the use of the known languages when used interchangeably can enhance communication. in the advent of using code switching, can help people express themselves adequately in order for the listeners to understand them better.
One thing that is puzzling even with the advantages that come with bilingualism is the notion of proficiency. Lack of it can make some people feel intimidated and therefore want to avoid the language they are not proficient. When people have not reached the native like proficiency, they tend to use the language they are proficient in and this does not give room for the other language to be used.
This is the point at which code switching happens most of the time. Bilingual/ multilingual persons engage in code switching so as to express themselves adequately. David Crystal says that code switching is used to fill in for the deficiency that one may have in one language (365). This again helps bring out the attitude and relationship between the speaker and listener. This is so because people would rather code switch when they speak to close confidants, family and colleagues and not their bosses even when they speak the same languages.
Work Cited
Crystal, David. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. 2nd Edition. New York: Cambridge University Press.
