Language choice, code-switching and code mixing in biase

Abstract

This paper examines language choice and the twin phenomena of code-switching and codemixing in a multi-lingual Biase Local Government Area in Cross River State, Nigeria. It looks at the different languages spoken in Biase - from the local languages which serve as mother tongues (MT/L1)
to other languages in use in the Local Government Area, including English, Efik and the Nigerian Pidgin (NP). It also looks at options open to the indigenes in the use of all the languages in the area and circumstances that dictate the use of any particular language with another. This paper focuses on the uniqueness of code-switching and code-mixing in Biase which is based on its direction and dimension and the implication of this linguistic behaviour in Biase languages.