Résumés
Abstract
Bilingual code-mixing is the use of elements (phonological, lexical, and morpho-syntactic) from two languages in the same utterance or stretch of conversation or in different situations. Bilingual code-mixing is ubiquitous among bilinguals, both child and adult. Child bilingual code-mixing has been interpreted by researchers and laypersons as an indication of linguistic confusion and incompetence. This article reviews a series of studies on French-English simultaneous bilinguals from Montreal that examined their code-mixing with respect to young bilingual children’s ability: to differentiate their developing languages, to control code-mixing in different communicative situations, to adjust their code-mixing in response to feedback from interlocutors, and to fill gaps in their developing language competence. Contrary those who view child code-mixing as evidence of confusion and incompetence, extant evidence indicates that it reflects linguistic and communicative competence even in very early stages of simultaneous bilingual acquisition.
Keywords:
- bilingual acquisition,
- code-mixing,
- bilingualism,
- Montreal,
- Canada
Résumé
L’alternance de codes (ou « code-mixing ») chez les personnes bilingues est l’utilisation d’éléments (phonologiques, lexicaux et morpho-syntaxiques) provenant de deux langues dans le même énoncé, dans la même partie de conversation ou dans différentes situations. L’alternance de codes est un phénomène omniprésent chez les enfants et les adultes bilingues. Ce phénomène a été interprété par les chercheurs et la population générale comme une indication de confusion et d’incompétence linguistique chez les enfants bilingues. Cet article présente plusieurs études portant sur ce phénomène auprès d’enfants bilingues de Montréal ayant appris le français et l’anglais simultanément. Les aspects suivants furent examinés : leur capacité à différencier les langues qu’ils acquièrent, à changer de langue dans différentes situations de communication, à changer de langue pour répondre aux réactions des interlocuteurs ou pour compenser les limites de leurs habiletés langagières en développement. Contrairement à la pensée voulant que l’alternance de codes soit une preuve de confusion et d’incompétence, plusieurs preuves suggèrent que ce phénomène reflète plutôt des compétences linguistiques et de communication, et ce, même dans les étapes très précoces de l’acquisition simultanée de deux langues.
Mots clés:
- alternance de codes,
- acquisition bilingue,
- bilinguisme,
- Montréal,
- Canada
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Parties annexes
Note biographique
Fred Genesee (Professor, Psychology, McGill University) has conducted extensive research on alternative forms of bilingual and immersion education. His current research interests include language acquisition in pre-school bilingual children, internationally-adopted children, and the language and academic development of students at-risk attending bilingual school programs.
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