Bilingual and Multilingual Kids: Code Switching vs Code Mixing

[@MultilingualFamily]

So interesting, I really though it was called code-switching no matter if intentionally or unintentionally used. Thank you for clarifying that!

[@mateo_ferranco]

Interesting how we're being closer to having native speakers of a mixed up language, just like in the movie blade runner where people speak mixed japanese-french-hungarian-etc.

[@AskTetsu]

As the world gets more and more multilingual, this mixing may soon become more of the norm than the exception.

[@zhaniyabekbau9379]

I watched Ted Talk about child bilingualism. The speaker said that if child mixes child means that they are pretty advanced in all of them. Because usually they keep all grammatical uniquenesses of languages as much as possible. And that usually don’t switch if they know that speaker doesn’t speak this language.

[@AskTetsu]

Yes, as you say, many experts say that kids mixing languages actually show they have MORE command of the language.

[@lalahana111]

@@AskTetsu omg!! I didn’t know that! I hope my future child can do that! Im pregnant now and I want my child could speak うちなーぐち, 日本語, Español, Türkçe and English!

[@cesarjavierfeliciocortez4361]

Thank you for helping me to understand what is the difference between them. Now I can distinguish them. I have no kids, but this is very interesting to know and learn, even if we are studying phycholinguists and sociolinguistics like me because sometimes it is kind of hard to understand by reading from scientist's books.

[@AskTetsu]

You're welcome Cesar! Hope my videos serve you well when you have kids! keep watching! ;)

[@william2154]

1:10 i noticed when you code switch with french and english, your english accent has a more quebecois accent versus when youre speaking just in english. Do you notice "accent switching" when theres code switching as well?

[@AskTetsu]

Ha ha, never gotten that comment before! You've got fine tuned ears! ;)

[@litiligirl]

Thank you for the insights and the beautiful videoclip with your son. In a nutshell, code-mixing is unintentional and used by the speakers as a resource to complete and convey the message, whereas code-switching implies intentional switching between two (or more) languages within a phrase or sentence. Would you agree with that?

[@AskTetsu]

Yes! There's not really a strong concensus on this, but this is how I understand it from some of the big influencers in this niche. Thank you for your nice comment!

[@ak5659]

I thought being concerned about confusion was a uniquely American phenomenon. Does this concept even exist in other countries? Just asking bec I've only ever encountered it with monolingual American English speakers.

[@AskTetsu]

Thanks for your comment. I think this happens everywhere, maybe to different degrees. I know Japanese parents often want their kids to wait until they're a certain age before getting them to learn English. They want their kids to first learn Japanese well. It's unfortunate.

[@joeduckburyofjoeducania4587]

Even tho I'm a teenager I still codeswitch my home language Japanese with English and Italian its fun in my opinion

[@AskTetsu]

It definitely is fun! Especially when the person you are talking to also does it, and then ppl around you think your conversation is insane! 😁

[@plutonianpepe]

awesome =D...simply awesome...acquisition is just natural and organic...I do it for adults. Woot!

[@AskTetsu]

Thanks so much for you kind comment!

[@plutonianpepe]

@@AskTetsu =D It's well-deserved.

[@ngotri1995]

wow, i didnt know this Thank you so much for sharing !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AskTetsu]

Glad it helped!

[@jirril]

Hey, Tetsu. Just so you know, French is the only language in Quebec with official status.

[@AskTetsu]

Yes, you're right Tony! Thanks for reminding me of this important distinction! New Brunswick is the other province with French as an official language, although it also has English, whereas Qc is only French.

[@kiki-sc8wz]

Thank you for erasing my concern. I was always wondering what to do with my kid in the future as I am Chinese and my husband is German and we both speak English and Japanese. Do you think it is better to let them first start with our mother tongues with the principle of OPOL than start with 3 languages ? Thank you in advance!

[@AskTetsu]

Thank you Kiki for your comment. You mention 4 languages, but your question seem to be about 3, so I will assume Japanese is not one of the 3. That said, I think the most natural scenario is you speaking Chinese and your husband speaking German with the child. The parents can continue to speak to each other in English, and the child may pick up some passive knowledge along the way. But if you really want him to speak English well, then more input will be needed. And I would do it earlier rather than later. SImultaneously with Chinese and German. Hope this helps.

[@kiki-sc8wz]

@@AskTetsu Thank you for your kind reply ,Tetsu! It is really helpful and I will definitely try that out. I was thinking it might be a little bit too much for her to start with 4 in the beginning so maybe it is better to start with 3 and as she gets older, she might grow interest in Japanese anime and could actively learn Japanese by herself. I would love to hear your opinion and your approach:) Besides, what if she is learns faster in Chinese and sometimes has trouble understanding some of the German as we are base in China now. Would it be better to explain that in Chinese or just keep showering her in German? Thank you!

[@AskTetsu]

@@kiki-sc8wz Sorry for my delayed response. I just saw your comment. The reason for not going with 4 languages should not be the "limit of the child". 4 is fine. The limitation is more in the parents in finding 4 reliable and distinct sources of input. I usually discourage people to switch around in their languages so the kids create a good habit of speaking one language with one specific person. So in your case, you'll need more input than yourself and your husband for languages beyond Chinese and German. Now, you say you are living in China. In this case, YOU can be the input for English or Japanese instead of Chinese. But the tradeoff is that your relationship with your child may suffer depending on how well you master English or Japanese. You NEED to be good enough to be able to build a good relationship with your child in that language. As for German, yes, I would stick to it and get your husband to spend a LOT of time with the child to have massive amounts of German input. It is NOT necessary (or may even be discouraged) to re-explain everything. Just carry on with the conversation in German and eventually the kid will get better and better at it. Hope this helps!

[@JzmnDouglas]

Thank you for the reassurance 😊

[@AskTetsu]

Yes, it is no problem at all. In fact, cherish the days that your kid will be mixing languages, even creating new words! They come up with the funniest new words!

[@user-it8kw3wy2y]

This is great!

[@AskTetsu]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Eliza!

[@user-it8kw3wy2y]

@@AskTetsu No problem. Please keep up the good work and sharing with us !

[@cameronmotorbike5117]

这个视频很火