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The Art of Code-switching
The Art of Code-switching
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By Megan Norton
I recently found out that several actors and actresses whom I’ve admired in various international films are in some form or fashion third culture kids. In an interview with Crazy Rich Asians cast members, one actor explained his ability to take on different film roles was learned from his practicing “code-switching” in different countries growing up. He said he learned to “act” appropriately and effectively in different contexts and that has now proven a valuable skill in his acting career.
As a third culture kid myself, I can relate to his explanation. Throughout my childhood, I enjoyed taking on different roles and personalities in plays and in theater class. I enjoyed the freedom and permission to “escape” into another world, persona, and culture. And yet, quite frankly, I was learning how to codeswitch effectively from doing it subconsciously throughout my own childhood moves and in everyday real life.
When I moved back to the US after having completed my entire formal education in seven different international schools in six different countries, I felt like I wasn’t on a stage I had either practiced or performed on previously— this was an experience in which I had to learn the art of code-switching in real life. I had to reconcile my authentic and adaptive self in my different identity roles as student, US citizen, friend, neighbor, daughter, and third culture kid. Code-switching as an art in “real life” is a skill TCKs continue to craft our entire lives with authenticity, finesse, and care.
How can the art of code-switching be helpful for TCKs?
TCKs have had both exposure to and practice in building their cultural agility through our global travels and interactions with different people across cultures. We have experienced first-hand how communication can look different in various cultural contexts and how meaning attached to certain messages or pictures can be different as well. In their art of code-switching, TCKs have the unique ability to be cultural translators and mediators between people in cultural contexts.
Because of this learned skill, TCKs have the ability to know what is appropriate or inappropriate in terms of behavior and speech in different contexts. From an early age we have learned to access our curiosity and practice moving into discomfort to learn about a new perspective or way of doing something. We have learned to recognize and diagnose what is appropriate in a context and adapt to it authentically ourselves. We have a heightened awareness of how to self-regulate and to establish boundaries or preferences based on what is expected in a cultural context.
Lastly, the art of code-switching is more than being culturally dexterous on a behavioral level. It is the ability to know which intelligence to use in a given situation (cognitive intelligence, emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, etc.). The ability to identify how to show up in a situation authentically and appropriately stems from our having a situational and mindful awareness. It’s about being conscientious of what kind of action or non-action is needed.
How can the art of code-switching be harmful for TCKs?
Constant code-switching can be exhausting. It can be taxing not only emotionally but also mentally and physically to navigate different behaviors, languages, and even values in different cultural contexts. To avoid burnout in constantly shifting in and out of contexts, it’s important to have personal downtime and solitude. Taken to the extreme, we TCKs could lose our sense of appropriate boundaries if we are constantly shifting to accommodate others and different cultural contexts. The art of code-switching...
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