Signing part of an ASL sentence in Thai Sign Language is an example of which phenomenon?

Signing part of an ASL sentence in Thai Sign Language is an example of which phenomenon?

• A. Code switching
• B. Idiomatic
• C. Literal translation
• D. Sign language mixing

Answer: (A)

Signing part of an ASL sentence in Thai Sign Language shows code-switching—the signer moves between language systems within one discourse. In bilingual or multilingual communication, people switch to another language or mode for specific reasons, such as conveying a concept more clearly, borrowing a term, or signaling a shift in context. Here, the sentence blends signs from ASL into Thai Sign Language, which is exactly switching between language systems rather than sticking to one language or translating word-for-word. Idiomatic would refer to expressions whose meaning isn’t literal to the words themselves, which isn’t the case here. Literal translation would imply a word-for-word rendering between languages, which also isn’t what's happening. Sign language mixing is a possible descriptive phrase, but the standard term for alternating between language systems within a sentence is code-switching.

Signing part of an ASL sentence in Thai Sign Language shows code-switching—the signer moves between language systems within one discourse. In bilingual or multilingual communication, people switch to another language or mode for specific reasons, such as conveying a concept more clearly, borrowing a term, or signaling a shift in context. Here, the sentence blends signs from ASL into Thai Sign Language, which is exactly switching between language systems rather than sticking to one language or translating word-for-word.

Idiomatic would refer to expressions whose meaning isn’t literal to the words themselves, which isn’t the case here. Literal translation would imply a word-for-word rendering between languages, which also isn’t what's happening. Sign language mixing is a possible descriptive phrase, but the standard term for alternating between language systems within a sentence is code-switching.