A study of code-switching according to Armenian conversations of Armenian-Persian bilinguals

Language contact occurs in various ways in multi-language societies. One of the most significant results of language contact is code switching, which refers to the use of phrases and words of more than one language within the same utterance or the same conversation. Code switching can be divided into two types: intra-sentential and inter-sentential. Armenian-Persian bilinguals frequently switch from Armenian to Persian in their Armenian conversations. This study examines two types of code switching based on 10 hours of recorded informal Armenian conversations in Tehran. In order to investigate intra-sentential code switching in this research, the model proposed by Myers-Scatton is utilized. For inter-sentential code switching the approach presented by Blom and Gumperz is employed. The results show that in Armenian conversations of Armenian- Persian bilinguals both kinds of code switching take place and intra-sentential is used more frequently.