Codeswitching Among Multilingual Learners in Primary Schools in South Africa: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Abstract Codeswitching is an important interactional resource in South Africa's multilingual and multicultural society. This article discusses the incidence of codeswitching in primary schools and examines the speakers' motivations for employing codeswitching. The data is drawn from conversations in both formal (classroom) and informal (playground) situations and the discussion is informed by current theoretical frameworks in codeswitching research. The implications of codeswitching for education in South Africa are considered.