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Listen to an Academic Talk Test #030
Listen to an Academic Talk
1. What is the main topic of the talk?
A) The challenges of learning a new language
B) The practice of alternating between languages
C) How languages borrow words from each other
D) The grammar rules of bilingual speech
2. According to the professor, why might a speaker code-switch?
A) Because they have forgotten a word in one language
B) To show that they are not a member of a group
C) To emphasize a particular point in a conversation
D) Because they are not fluent in either language
3. What was likely a past misconception about code-switching?
A) That it was only used for social reasons
B) That it was a sign of linguistic incompetence
C) That only highly educated people did it
D) That it made conversations easier to understand
4. Why does the professor mention the word "sushi"?
A) To show that some words are difficult to pronounce
B) To give an example of expressing a specific concept
C) To discuss the influence of Japanese culture
D) To prove that code-switching is a random process
Professor: Many of us who are bilingual or multilingual do something unconsciously in conversation: we switch between languages. This practice is known as code-switching. It's not a random mixing of languages; rather, it's a systematic and often strategic process.
For instance, a speaker might switch to another language to quote someone, to emphasize a point, or to express a concept that doesn't have a direct equivalent in the other language. A classic example is using a specific culinary term from one language, like "sushi," when speaking another, like English, because it's the most precise word.
Code-switching can also serve a social function. It can be used to signal membership in a particular community or to create a sense of solidarity with the listener. Far from being a sign of language deficiency, linguists now see code-switching as a sign of linguistic skill and social awareness.
For instance, a speaker might switch to another language to quote someone, to emphasize a point, or to express a concept that doesn't have a direct equivalent in the other language. A classic example is using a specific culinary term from one language, like "sushi," when speaking another, like English, because it's the most precise word.
Code-switching can also serve a social function. It can be used to signal membership in a particular community or to create a sense of solidarity with the listener. Far from being a sign of language deficiency, linguists now see code-switching as a sign of linguistic skill and social awareness.
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