Lingua Franca and Code-Switching

Across language barriers today, many interactions take place in English, even when no one involved is a native speaker.

This trend emerged because English is often used as a lingua franca: a shared language for speakers who don't share a native tongue.

But how does a language become a lingua franca?

How a Lingua Franca Forms

When languages come into contact, speakers typically converge on one mutual language to communicate. However, this choice isn't random.

In most cases, deciding on which language to use primarily relies on power, population, and prestige. When language contact occurs, the smaller, less influential communities tend to adopt the language of larger, more dominant ones (Guy).

During colonial times, for example, Portuguese settlers enslaved indigenous populations, which eventually led to the decimation of indigenous language speakers. While indigenous languages were once abundant, today over 90% of Brazilians speak native Portuguese. Unfortunately, it was common during colonization to force language assimilation as colonizers leveraged their power to shape the local linguistic marketplace.

This process explains why English has become the most globally influential language. The language spread during British colonialism, and the rise of the United States has cemented English as a desirable language carrying rich associations with wealth and prestige through its entertainment and technological innovations.

But as English continues to be a lingua franca, more people will become bilingual in it, leading to a phenomenon known as code-switching.

Code-Switching

In today's global business environment, English is everywhere, resulting in increasing multilingualism as people learn the language.

Code-switching, or shifting between two different languages within a conversation, is common among many multilingual speakers. These shifts can happen between sentences or even within a single sentence.

Here are a few examples:

"What's the matter? ¡Dime!" (What's the matter? Tell me!)

"We need to do this para Viernes" (We need to do this by Friday)

Additionally, context also influences when people code-switch. Speakers usually code-switch when there's no exact translation, to add emphasis, or just for fun.

In most professional settings, however, code-switching is still stigmatized, especially by monolingual speakers and those who prioritize "proper" English (Guy). Even in bilingual workplaces, employees may stick to English without code-switching to appear more professional.

In contrast, in less formal settings where bilingualism is more normalized (like at food trucks or small businesses), code-switching is more common and acceptable.

Understanding what a lingua franca is and how speakers adapt to linguistic trends helps us make sense of how language reflects power. They reflect cultural attitudes, expectations, and values.