Explores an Optimality-Theoretic approach to account for observed cross-linguistic patterns of code switching that assumes that code switching strives for well-formedness. Optimization of well-formedness in code switching is shown to follow from (violable) ranked constraints. An argument is advanced that code-switching patterns emerge from…

Presents an analysis of code switching that relies on general principles of phrase structure and rejects constraints specific to code switching. This model is shown to account for intersentential switches between typologically different languages such as Farsi and English, including within word switches and switches between modifiers and nouns.…

A study of code switching attempts to validate the equivalence constraint on intrasentential code switching on the basis of natural speech data from two typologically different languages, Finnish and English. All informants are fluent native speakers of Finnish who emigrated to Canada as adults. (25 references) (Author/OD)