286 research outputs found

    Review of Has Progress Been Made in Raising Achievement for English Language Learners

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    MacSwan finds that the CEP report has significant weaknesses in its research methods which undermine its findings. Further, he indicates that given the limitations in the data, it is inappropriate to draw conclusions from the data summarized in the report

    Identifying partially schematic units in the code-mixing of an English and German speaking child

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    The support of the Economic and Social Research Council [ES/L008955/1] is gratefully acknowledged.Intra-sentential code-mixing presents a number of puzzles for theories of bilingualism. In this paper, we examine the code-mixed English-German utterances of a young English-German-Spanish trilingual child between 1;10 – 3;1, using both an extensive diary kept by the mother and audio recordings. We address the interplay between lexical and syntactic aspects of language use outlined in the usage-based approach (e.g. Tomasello, 2003). The data suggest that partially schematic constructions play an important role in the code-mixing of this child. In addition, we find, first, that the code-mixing was not mainly the result of lexical gaps. Second, there was more mixing of German function words than content words. Third, code-mixed utterances often consisted of the use of a partially schematic construction with the open slot filled by material from the other language. These results raise a number of important issues for all theoretical approaches to code mixing, which we discuss.PostprintPeer reviewe

    Code‐mixing and Code‐switching

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    Code‐mixing or code‐switching is the use of more than one language or variety within a single communication event. Various information is signaled by the choice of language or by switching from one variety to another. This may include the structure of the ongoing interaction, the relevant social context, or elements of the speakers' identities highlighted in the interaction. Research on language mixing or code‐switching developed in the mid‐twentieth century, following occasional work on language mixing in the preceding century. Linguists have explored constraints on code‐switching within a sentence, as well as the phonological and grammatical structure of borrowed or switched forms. Work in linguistic anthropology and related fields reveals various ways that language choice and code‐switching signal or create context in interaction. Language users select from their repertoires to highlight elements of identity or to negotiate relevant social roles. Future directions in research include understanding language use in diverse or globalized settings, and challenging views of normative monolingualism against more complex language behavior.book par
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