Language switching (language alternation, code switching), the rapid alternation from one language to another, may or may not convey more than the cognitive significance of the message. Linguists have demonstrated the metaphorical or connotative significance of switching, but have not fully discussed the various forms switching takes. The present paper is the result of a careful analysis of both casual conversation speech of 33 bilingual Chicano migrant workers in Florida as well as their identifications of pictures from PLIM (Sapon: 1957) and a Sears catalogue. It intends to show how various sociolinguistic factors interact to determine switches ranging from isolated words in Spanish used out of necessity (lack of knowledge of the English word) to keenly purposeful switching intended to convey feelings of ethnic solidarity. These sociolinguistic factors include: (1) degree of migration, (2) degree of proficiency in each language, (3) place of birth, (4) length of time in the U.S., (5) education, (6) parents' birthplace, (7) spouse's birthplace, (8) future job aspirations, (9) awareness of linguistic norms of either or both languages, (10) ability to recognize which language is being spoken. (Author/CLK)