to code switch
– C1-C2 (advanced) –
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In the English language, this phrasal verb typically means:
to change from one language or manner of speaking/communicating to another language or manner of speaking/communicating, often in order to fit in to a particular environment
EXAMPLES
“In the United States–among other anglophone nations–it is an unfortunate reality that members of the Black community still feel the need to code switch at the workplace, in school, and/or at social gatherings in order to be taken seriously.”
“Whenever she would code switch to English in French class, her teacher would always get upset with her. ‘We only speak French in this classroom,’ her teacher would say. But, honestly, she never saw the problem with doing it. After all, switching from one language to another quickly can be a pretty helpful skill.”
“He tended to code switch a lot around his kids, using their different slang words and expressions. So, one day when he forgot to code switch back to more professional language, like Business English, during a meeting with the CEO, he was completely embarrassed.”
Do you ever code switch? When do you typically do it and why? Practice your English by letting me know in the comments below.
