Day 1
When I went to school today, I saw some of my friends and I greeted them saying, “Yo! Wassup!” Then I went to a class that my friends didn’t have and sat next to a person I didn’t know. When I talked to him, I greeted him saying, “Hi, Excuse me…,” I talked to him in a more polite and calm tone since I didn’t really know him as well as my other friends. I code- switched to a more gentle tone when I first met someone.
Day 2
When I was home, I was talking with my sibling in English since it is easier for us to communicate rather than speaking in Chinese. When I talk to my parents or grandparents, I would code- switch to Chinese and communicate by speaking Chinese to them. I would only speak to them in Chinese because they don’t know how to speak English so I have to switch between languages to speak to different people in my family.
Day 3
Today, when I came home from school, I felt somewhat overwhelmed with all the studying and homework that I needed to do. Right as I walked through the door of my apartment, I acted normally. I tried to make an impression to my parents that I was not stressed. I tried to make it so that they would not have to worry too much.
Day 4
Today, I went out to eat at a restaurant with my cousins and when we were ready to order, I said, “Hi, excuse me, can we get…” and ended it off with a “Thank you!” Then I would go back to my conversation with my cousins and talk informally. When we were done eating, I said, “Excuse me, can we get the check please.” I would talk in a more polite way with good manners to the waiter. When we started walking out, we said, “Thank you, have a great day!” As soon as we stepped out the door we would start talking in a more casual way.
Day 5
Today when I went to my cousin’s place I code- switched twice. When I talked to his parents, I spoke in a more respectful and polite way. When I spoke to my cousin, I spoke with him more freely and sometimes used some bad words. Also, when I talked to his parents I had to switch to Chinese to talk to them so that they would understand what I’m saying. When my cousin talks to his parents, he uses some Chinese and some English because he doesn’t know too much Chinese, he mostly speaks English.
Day 6
On this day, when I went out to play basketball with one of my cousins, I spoke to him in Chinese because he just immigrated here from China. He doesn’t know so much English so I felt like it was better to speak to him in Chinese so he understands me more. To my other cousins born in the United States, I would speak to them in English since they understand English more than Chinese.
Day 7
My aunt and cousins came over for dinner today and they immigrated from China less than a year ago. When they speak to my family and I, they speak in Chinese, more specifically, Cantonese. When my cousin speaks to his mom, he speaks to her in Mandarin since that is what they mainly speak in China. They seem to naturally code- switch to a different language when communicating to different people.
I can definitely relate talking in different languages to family members. Most of my dads side of the family only speaks Spanish. It’s crazy how much we actually do it when we take note of it.
I relate with talking to a different language with family members but I don’t do it often since I don’t see my grandparents as much. I actual speak a different language the most at work when I am helping customers.
I understand what you did in day 1. i feel like comfortability and respect had a role in it. With our friends we tend to be more relaxed and with strangers we tend to be more aware with how we speak to them because we don’t know them yet.
I can relate to your Day 3 report of code switching. If I am feeling stressed, and I am around people that I can vent to or relate to my issues, then I don’t hide my emotions. But if I am around people I can’t do that with, I code switch and act neutral.