Youth language in Beasain: the influence of the context on code-switching

Abstract

In this research, different conversations among a group of young people from Beasain were analyzed. To this end, discussions within this group were recorded in both peer group and family contexts. The recordings were then transcribed and analyzed. Through this analysis, we wanted to see what code-switching characteristics are displayed in the daily verbal behavior of these young people from Beasain in their peer group and family contexts. Considering the need to analyze youth language as a phenomenon closely linked to today’s communicative context (Lantto 2015), the main objective of this work was to identify differences between one context and another in the use of code-switching. To this end, it focused mainly on the pragmatic, syntactic and lexical aspect of code-switching in youth conversations, analyzing the results obtained on the basis of these aspects of language. Themain conclusion of the work was that young people adapt their language significantly to the context and nature of the conversation, even if the contexts are informal.