Semantic functions of trilingual code-switching: Evidence from Maghreb Arabic, French, and English in a study-abroad context

Abstract

Research on codeswitching (CS) has largely focused on its grammatical, pragmatic, linguistic, and sociocultural functions. Semantic functions, however, have received less direct attention and are often treated within broader categories such as topic, lexical need, evaluation, or cultural association. As a result, it can be difficult to establish when a switch primarily contributes lexical or conceptual meaning, especially in trilingual interaction where current switches must also be distinguished from established borrowings. The present study addresses this issue in Maghreb Arabic (MA)–French–English interaction among 29 North African university students studying in Hungary. The dataset comprises 5.12 hours of group discussion, together with metalinguistic interviews. The analysis combined qualitative content analysis, comparison across speakers and contexts, participant comments, and a borrowing audit. Of the 2,183 CS functions identified in the broader dataset, 535 (24.51%) were classified as semantic. Four recurring patterns emerged: domain-linked terminology in business, technology, and power; experiential frame differentiation; reflective and abstract framing; and lexicalized evaluation. The findings suggest that semantic CS is better understood in terms of recurring lexical and conceptual choices than as evidence that particular languages are tied to whole semantic domains. They also show the importance of considering speakers’ language experience and the borrowing status of individual items. The four semantic functions were not independently second-coded, however, and the sample was small, highly educated, predominantly Tunisian, and based in a study-abroad setting. Further research is therefore needed to test the proposed taxonomy in other multilingual groups and contexts.