Online Discussions of Code- Switching on X : A Qualitative Discourse Analysis of Authenticity, Communicative Practices, and Social Pressure

Sammanfattning

This Bachelor’s thesis examines how individuals discuss and evaluate code-switching in online discourse on the platform X (previously known as Twitter). The study uses qualitative text analysis, specifically discourse analysis, to analyze posts, comments, reposts, and replies related to code-switching. The analysis draws on theories of discourse analysis, language ideology, and linguistic capital to explore how code-switching is connected to identity, authenticity, race, and social power. The results show that code- switching is interpreted in multiple and often conflicting ways. Some individuals frame it as inauthentic and performative, while others describe it as a natural communicative practice and a valuable communicative resource. The findings also show that code-switching may function as a survival strategy shaped by workplace norms, social expectations, racialized experiences, and institutional power relations.