3rd Tour

"Codeswitching"

     If you read that title that ERNIE chose, you are most likely wondering what that is, and what this post will be about.  Well, I have never heard the word but it is something that I have done for years.  I would not say that I was bilingual growing up, however, I did know a conversational Low German.  There are words that I have always said in Low German, like 'tub duke" (dish rag), schoup (dust pan), schlope shine (sleep well) and various other such words.  

     I would say that I would now call myself bilingual, as I can actually converse in Spanish.  The "codeswitching' is more extreme and we all seem to do it here.  In conversations with my husband or am ongst other fellow expats one eases in and out between languages.  

     'Codeswitching' is using two (or more) different languages in the same sentence. Along the US/Mexican border there is actually another language, sometimes referred to as "TexMex", that has developed its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar rules, by combining English and Spanish! 

As missionaries we slide back and forth between languages, using the words or expressions that most quickly or adequately explain or convey what we are trying to communicate. It gets funny at times! 

So, if you find yourself using a couple of different languages when you speak, you are in good company! There's many that do it. :-)