Language Acquisition Exam 2 Practice 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

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What does code-switching indicate about bilingual competence?

That a speaker lacks proficiency in one language.

That a speaker is confused about language use.

That bilingualism is unstable.

That it indicates full competence in both languages and communicative flexibility.

Code-switching shows that a bilingual speaker has full competence in both languages and can use them flexibly in real conversation. People switch languages to fit the situation: to express a concept more precisely, to fill a gap when a word is easier in one language, to add emphasis, or to signal social identity and rapport with the listener. This ability reflects solid lexical and grammatical knowledge in both languages and the skill to regulate language according to context, topic, and audience. It’s a resource that often makes communication more natural and effective, not a sign of confusion or deficiency. So, it indicates strong bilingual competence and communicative adaptability rather than instability.