Research Papers

Prior work has largely treated linguistic code-switching as a deficit — evidence of incomplete mastery of either language. This paper challenges that framing, arguing instead that fluent code-switching demonstrates a distinct and cognitively demanding competence: the ability to navigate two grammatical systems simultaneously while preserving coherence. Drawing on a corpus of 500 recorded conversations, we identify systematic, rule-governed patterns in switch points that are inconsistent with random or deficient language use, and instead point toward a sophisticated, underappreciated bilingual skill.