Code-Switching as a Marker of Ethnic Identity in Multilingual Communities

Abstract

This article examines code-switching as a socially and culturally meaningful practice that functions as a marker of ethnic identity in multilingual communities. Drawing from sociolinguistic theories and examples across informal, institutional, and digital settings, the study highlights how speakers use language to signal belonging, assert hybridity, express resistance, and construct complex identities. Far from being a random occurrence, code-switching emerges as a strategic and symbolic act deeply embedded in the performance of ethnic identity. The article calls for further research into the social functions of code-switching, particularly through ethnographic and classroom-based approaches.