What term describes the phenomenon of slipping into one's native language while speaking a second language?

• A. Language Transfer
• B. Code-switching
• C. Interlanguage Shift
• D. Bilingual Interference

Answer: (B)

Code-switching is when a bilingual speaker moves from one language to another within a conversation or even within a single sentence. This natural shift can happen for several practical reasons: it can quickly fill a lexical gap, convey a precise meaning that’s easier in the other language, or signal social identity and rapport with the listener. It isn’t about mistakes; it’s a common communication strategy that shows flexibility and competence in more than one language. Language transfer describes how features from the first language influence the second language, usually in learner errors or patterns, rather than the act of switching languages in real time. Interlanguage shift refers to changes in a learner’s evolving internal grammar, not the act of alternating languages mid-speech. Bilingual interference is a broader idea about cross-language effects on processing, which can include transfer but doesn’t specifically capture the act of switching languages during speech.