Code-switching

Code-switching is the practice of alternating between two or more languages, dialects, or communication styles within a single conversation or even a single sentence. It is common in multilingual households, immigrant communities, and among speakers of non-standard dialects. Code-switching has significant implications for accessibility technology: automatic speech recognition systems and captioning tools often perform poorly when speakers switch languages mid-sentence, creating barriers for multilingual users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Similarly, voice assistants may not understand commands that blend languages. Designing accessible technology for diverse linguistic communities requires accounting for code-switching in both input recognition and output generation.