Code Switching...

OK. I'm going to work at writing actual posts about INFORMATION. This one has been on my mind more lately than ever. I learned about this phrase in Fall 2008 while still at school. I was taking an English class that dealt with the education side of my degree. If I ever decided to go back to get my secondary teaching license for English, this class is one of the requirements. This class dealt with the rhetoric of teaching English as well as developing lesson plans, etc.

Anyway, we learned about a concept called Code Switching. This is where certain populations of people change the way they speak based on the group of people they are with, in simple terms. Take for example a person is from another country. That person's primary language is possibly another language, like Spanish or French. But, for the sake of this story, the person is a student, in an all-English speaking class. When this person goes to school, they have (or supposed to) speak in all English. But, when they go home, they return to their native tongue to speak to family members. This is code switching.

I've read on many of the forums I read where posters complain about other posters who don't know how to read or write correctly. And then go into writing "how" they should act on that specific forum.

Being an English major, I know exactly what they mean. No matter what I read or where I read it, I'm ALWAYS putting in words or mentally editing what other people write. Whether it's on a forum or the information at the doctor's office, I'm always editing and proofreading while I read it.

But, I also do code switching. My code switching deals primarily with text messaging. I hate when anyone sends me text messages that are all acronyms. Rob's daughter sends him text messages that are all acronyms. To me, if you can't WRITE a message correctly, why should you write it? I ABSOLUTELY refuse to respond to a message from anyone who writes in all acronyms. When Rob and I message each other, the message is correct grammatically. Yes, I have been known to have a spelling error, but when that happens, I try my hardest to fix it before it gets sent. I typically will write the message where the sentences aren't capitalized. You may find my messages come off like this: i like to write but don't like to capitalize, even though i do use correct grammar and punctuation.

So, what does this all mean to me? There are so many different people in the world who use code switching every day. I use it not only when I write my text messages, but also between home, friends, family, etc. When I go to work, I write and speak differently than I do when I'm at home. I also may speak differently between my friends and family. Every person does it. For some people it's just worse than others.

Think about when you code switch. Who do you do it with and what do you say? How do you say it? Think about what other people think when you speak with them.

Lots of love,

Cathy
8^ )