hide
Free keywords:
-
Abstract:
Code switching is the use of two languages within a single sentence. We tested the hypothesis that claims that language-ambiguous words, such as cognates or homophones, trigger a switch to the other language. Experiment 1 showed that Dutch–English bilinguals read code-switched words presented in sentences faster when the switch was preceded by a cognate trigger word than when preceded by a noncognate control word. Experiment 2 focused on lexical triggering and alignment with a dialogue partner in a discourse situation, using the confederate-scripting technique.
Bilinguals were more likely to switch languages when the confederate had code switched, and this alignment effect was particularly large in the production of sentences containing language-ambiguous trigger words. Implications for theories of bilingual language production, code
switching,and discourse alignment are discussed.
