Code-switching

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

Sorry if this is nothing much to do with picowrimobut it is something I've been working with a LOT with my WIP - I'm holed up in an arts centre trying to finish the Eternal Second Draft. Don't know if I'll manage it, but I should hopefully finish before the end of May.

I've recently come across the interesting phenomenon of code-switching, a linguistic phenomenon where the characters converse using more than one language. There is often an unwritten rule in this practice where the duller, more official stuff is discussed in the "official" language e.g. English, while the more personal feelings prompt a switch into some language closer to the heart. I have heard that people do it a lot when they want to make a point to someone else in their "group" who will get the stuff that outsiders won't.


( Both Eva and Lucia do this in my WIP )

I know a lot of people are fan-ficcing fictional worlds, but I'm wondering if code-switching happens there too, between elves and dwarfs and the like? And as for the Man from Uncle crowd, there's rich pickings there, I imagine!