CODE-SWITCHING IN MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE

Code-switching, the practice of alternating between two or more languages within a single conversation or utterance, is one of the most widely studied phenomena in sociolinguistics. Far from being a sign of linguistic incompetence, it reflects sophisticated bilingual or multilingual ability and serves a variety of communicative and social functions. This paper examines the nature, types, and functions of code-switching in multilingual communities, drawing on key theoretical frameworks including Myers-Scotton's Markedness Model and Gumperz's interactional sociolinguistics. The study explores why speakers switch between languages, what grammatical constraints govern switching, and what social meanings such switches carry. Findings indicate that code-switching is a rule-governed, purposeful communicative strategy that reflects the complex linguistic identities of multilingual speakers. Implications for language teaching and attitudes toward multilingualism are also discussed.