Multilingual Play: Children’s Code-Switching, Role Play and Agency in Dominica, West Indies
Author(s)
Paugh, Amy L.
Abstract
In Dominica, rural adults forbid children from speaking Patwa (a French-lexicon creole) in favor of acquiring English (the official language), contributing to a rapid language shift in most villages. However, adults value Patwa for a range of expressive functions & frequently code-switch around & to children. Children increasingly use English but employ Patwa for some functions during peer play when away from adults. This study examines how, despite possible sanctions, children use Patwa to enact particular adult roles during peer play, & what this signifies about their knowledge of role- & place-appropriate language use. Critically, they draw on their verbal resources & physically embodied social action to create imaginary play spaces both organized by & appropriate for Patwa. The examination of children’s social worlds provides a more nuanced picture of language shift – & potential maintenance – than observing only adult-adult or adult-child interaction. 89 References.
