Code-Switching in Everything Everywhere All at Once: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Language, Identity, and Family Relationships

This study examines the purposes, functions, and sociolinguistic implications of code-switching in the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, focusing on its role in multilingual communication, identity construction, and interpersonal relationship negotiation. The study utilised a qualitative content analysis approach informed by Gumperz’s Conversational Code-Switching Theory (1982), involving purposive sampling of selected multilingual scenes featuring English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. The findings revealed that code-switching functions not only as a stylistic resource but also as a communicative strategy for expressing emotions, negotiating social relationships, constructing character identities, and representing the complexities of an intergenerational immigrant family. The analysis further demonstrated that language alternation in cinematic discourse reflects broader sociolinguistic experiences related to cultural belonging, generational differences, and identity struggles. The study contributes to the expanding field of fictive and media-centred sociolinguistics by highlighting the applicability of Gumperz’s framework in examining contemporary cinematic multilingualism. The study suggests that media discourse analysis should be further explored to enhance understanding of multilingual practices, linguistic hybridity, and the representation of language use in fictional narratives.

Code-switching; Multilingualism; Sociolinguistics; Film Discourse Analysis

1. Ahmad, N., & Ismail, S. (2022). An analysis of code-switching by language teachers with students of mixed proficiency levels of English at a sub-secondary school. FRASA: English Education and Literature Journal, 3(2), 122–131. https://doi.org/10.47701/frasa.v3i2.2310 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Alhabuobi, T. (2021). Analyzing discourse of Saudi speakers using the integrative approach (Goffman, Gumperz & Grice). Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 11(8), 926–935. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1108.08 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Balam, O., Parafita Couto, M. del C., & Stadthagen-González, H. (2020). Bilingual verbs in three Spanish/English code-switching communities. International Journal of Bilingualism, 24(5–6), 952–967. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367006920911449 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Beatty-Martínez, A. L., Navarro-Torres, C. A., & Dussias, P. E. (2020). Codeswitching: A bilingual toolkit for opportunistic speech planning. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1699. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01699 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bhatt, R., & Bolonyai, A. (2022). Multilingualism as an object of sociolinguistic description. Languages, 7(4), Article 277. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages7040277 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bocoum, B. (2022). Intrasentential and extrasentential code-switching among young bilingual speakers in Bamako: A conversation analytical perspective. ALTRALANG Journal, 4(2), 404–425. https://doi.org/10.52919/altralang.v4i02.227 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Denieffe, S. (2020). Commentary: Purposive sampling: Complex or simple? Research case examples. Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(8), 662–663. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987120928156 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Deuchar, M. (2020). Code-switching in linguistics: A position paper. Languages, 5(2), Article 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages5020022 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Fang, F., & Yao, X. (2024). Intergenerational transmission and multilingual dynamics: Exploring language policies in Chaoshan families through a contextual lens. Current Issues in Language Planning, 26(2), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664208.2024.2410517 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Gumperz, J. J. (1982). Discourse strategies. Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Han, X., Li, W., & Filippi, R. (2022). The effects of habitual code-switching in bilingual language production on cognitive control. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 25(5), 869–889. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728922000244 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Hayat, N. A., & AlBader, Y. B. (2022). The McChicken phenomenon: How has English become a prevalent language among Kuwaiti youths? World Journal of English Language, 12(6), 59. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v12n6p59 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Hofweber, J., & Marinis, T. (2023). What sentence repetition tasks can reveal about the processing effort associated with different types of code-switching. Languages, 8(1), Article 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages8010070 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Hofweber, J., Marinis, T., & Treffers-Daller, J. (2020). How different code-switching types modulate bilinguals’ executive functions: A dual control mode perspective. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 23(4), 909–925. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728919000804 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Jones, D. A. (2023). A review and critical analysis of qualitative methodologies and data-collection techniques used for code-switching research. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 7(2), 53–72. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12988 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Kheder, S., & Kaan, E. (2021). Cognitive control in bilinguals: Proficiency and code-switching both matter. Cognition, 209, Article 104575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2020.104575 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kootstra, G. J., Dijkstra, T., & van Hell, J. G. (2020). Interactive alignment and lexical triggering of code-switching in bilingual dialogue. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1747. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01747 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Kuzyk, O., Friend, M., Severdija, V., Zesiger, P., & Poulin-Dubois, D. (2020). Are there cognitive benefits of code-switching in bilingual children? A longitudinal study. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 23(3), 542–553. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728918001207 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Masruddin, Nasriandi, Ermawati, & Al Hamdany, M. Z. (2022). Code-switching as the communication strategy: Indonesian-English code switching between hotel’s employees. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 18(2), 517–527. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Masullo, C., Dentella, V., & Leivada, E. (2024). 73% of the observed bilingual (dis)advantageous effects on cognition stem from sociolinguistic factors: A systematic review. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 27(3), 480–494. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728923000664 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Nur, S., & Kassim, A. (2023). Issues and functions of code-switching in studies on popular culture: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Language Education and Applied Linguistics, 13(2), 7–18. https://doi.org/10.15282/ijleal.v13i2.9585 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Okazaki, S. Y. (2003). Metaphorical code-switching revisited. Ferris Studies, 38, 137–153. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Olson, D. J., & Seo, Y. (2024). Code-switching experience as a mitigating factor for cross-linguistic phonetic interference. Journal of Phonetics, 107, Article 101356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wocn.2024.101356 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Ramba, M., & Abu Bakar, F. (2024). A case study of Malaysian radio announcers’ code-switching. LSP International Journal, 11(2), 69–82. https://doi.org/10.11113/lspi.v11.22632 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Shinga, S., & Pillay, A. (2021). Why do teachers code-switch when teaching English as a second language? South African Journal of Education, 41(Suppl. 1), Article 1934. https://doi.org/10.15700/SAJE.V41NS1A1934 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Subon, F., & Tarmim, S. S. M. (2021). The Code-Switching Phenomenon during Oral Presentations among the Business Programme Students. IAFOR Journal of Education, 9(5), 85–100. https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.9.5.05 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Temesgen, A., & Hailu, E. (2022). Teachers’ codeswitching in EFL classrooms: Functions and motivations. Cogent Education, 9(1), Article 2124039. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2022.2124039 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Titone, D. A., & Tiv, M. (2023). Rethinking multilingual experience through a systems framework of bilingualism. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 26(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728921001127 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Wentker, M., & Schneider, C. (2022). And she be like ‘Tenemos frijoles en la casa’: Code-switching and identity construction on YouTube. Languages, 7(3), Article 219. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages7030219 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Widowati, T. S., & Bram, B. (2021). Code switching used by Emily as seen in Emily in Paris. Academic Journal Perspective: Education, Language, and Literature, 9(1), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.33603/perspective.v9i1.5007 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Williams, A., Srinivasan, M., Liu, C., Lee, P., & Zhou, Q. (2020). Why do bilinguals code-switch when emotional? Insights from immigrant parent–child interactions. Emotion, 20(5). https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000568 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Wood, N. I. (2019). Departing from doctor-speak: A perspective on code-switching in the medical setting. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(3), 464–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4768-0 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Yim, O., & Clément, R. (2021). Acculturation and attitudes toward code-switching: A bidimensional framework. International Journal of Bilingualism, 25(5), 1369–1388. https://doi.org/10.1177/13670069211019466 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Metaphorical code-switching revisited. (n.d.). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study