Code-switching: the thing you do without even thinking

You start a sentence in Luxembourgish, slip in a French word, and finish with an English phrase you picked up from a show. This mix is called code-switching, and in Luxembourg it's almost a national sport. Far from being a flaw, it's proof of agility.

Why we do it

Often, you pick the word that best expresses the idea, regardless of its original language. Sometimes it's also a way to create closeness with the person you're talking to. Code-switching is therefore a social tool as much as a reflex.

This phenomenon is common in multilingual societies, and Luxembourg is a telling example with its official languages living side by side every day. What some mistake for chaos is actually a very refined kind of gymnastics.

Own your mix

No need to be ashamed of this blend: it's your linguistic signature and that of your generation. As long as you make yourself understood, you're simply playing every card you hold. And that's rather clever.