Code-Switching and Emotional Expression in Bilingual Contexts: A Study of EFL Students at Tlemcen University

Abstract

This study investigates emotional codeswitching among EFL students at the University of Tlemcen. Bilingual individuals switch languages to express emotions effectively, using their second language as a self-control strategy. Language is crucial for understanding emotions, and considering language and culture is essential for comprehending human emotional experiences. Emotional arousal can disrupt language choice, leading to unintentional codeswitching and disrupting language harmony. Research shows that native language words evoke different emotions than second language words. Bilingual individuals' emotional expression, self-control, and emotional distance are influenced by language learning experiences. Language choice in expressing emotions within multilingual families is influenced by second language socialization. This study aims to explore variables impacting emotional experiences and expression in bilingual individuals.