Code-Switching and Code-Mixing Patterns in Kannada-English Bilingual Adults Who Stutter

Abstract

Bilingual adults who stutter (BAWS) may use code-switching (CS) and code-mixing (CM) as a coping strategy whenever they anticipate stuttering. The review of the literature suggested an existing empirical gap about CS and CM patterns related to stuttering. Hence, the current study compared the CS and CM patterns between Kannada-English BAWS and bilingual adults who do not stutter (BAWNS) using Mixed-method design. A total of 70 participants (35 BAWS and 35 BAWNS) participated in this study and were considered as groups 1 and 2. Indian Version of Language Experience and Proficiency questionnaire was administered on all the participants and the scores specify that both groups had native-like proficiency in Kannada (L1) and good proficiency in English (L2). Severity of stuttering of the BAWS was established using Stuttering severity instrument (SSI-4) in both languages. The participants were assessed using general conversation and narration tasks across three contexts (Mono-Kannada, Mono-English, and Bilingual). Audio and video recordings were obtained for each task. Different interlocutors carried out the general conversation tasks for each context. A narration task was given with three different topics for each context. Further, the author transcribed orthographically and analyzed the recordings for the below mentioned variables. In the analysis, the author compared the percentage of syllables stuttered (%SS), percentage of other disfluencies (%OD), Matrix Language Framework constituents, types, and levels of CS and CM between BAWS and BAWNS across contexts and tasks. Furthermore, both the groups of participants were compared on the scores of Bilingual switching questionnaire-Kannada English version (BSWQ-KE) in terms of their self-perceived experiences of CS and CM. These were subjected to statistical analyses using SPSS software (Version 26) to infer the differences between BAWS and BAWNS among various CS and CM aspects of interest. The data were not distributed normally for frequencies calculated (Quantitative data), hence the non-parametric tests were used. However, the data of BSWQ-KE questionnaire (Qualitative data) were normally distributed, therefore, parametric test was used. Further, between-group and within-group comparisons were carried out. Also, to understand more about the intentional CS behavior of BAWS, written responses were collected and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The between-group comparison results of the current study revealed that there is significantly higher %SS and %ODs in Kannada-English BAWS than BAWNS across contexts and tasks. Further, the study results showed significantly higher CS and CM behaviors in Kannada-English BAWS than BAWNS across contexts and tasks based on the Matrix Language Framework constituents (Embedded language Islands, Matrix and embedded language Islands, Matrix language Shift, Borrowed form, and Revisions), types of CS (Intersentential CS, Intrasentential CS, and Tag CS), and two levels of switching (Lexical-Semantic and syntactic levels of switching). Further, the total percentage of CS was significantly higher in BAWS than BAWNS across contexts and tasks. Within-group comparison results showed significantly higher CS and CM in Mono-Kannada context and Bilingual context than Mono-English context across tasks. Further, no significant difference was observed between Mono-Kannada context and Bilingual context, across tasks. The results were consistent across all the dependent variables of the current study. Qualitative results of the current study using BSWQ-KE showed that significantly higher overall switching behavior in BAWNS than BAWS. However, the results of contextual CS and a specific question on intentional switching behavior showed significantly higher switching in BAWS than BAWNS. Further, BAWS with severe stuttering perceived to switch significantly more than mild stuttering. Additionally, the results of qualitative content analysis of the current study showed 85.71% of Kannada-English BAWS reported that they intentionally switch to cope with stuttering. Based on their descriptive responses, five sub-themes (communication, coping, conceptualization, social-value and reputation, and psychological strength) were created under the major theme called Personal growth. Overall, the current study was the first one to report that the Kannada-English BAWS use intentional CS and CM behaviors to avoid stuttering.