School of Business | Placement Open Evening
6 October 2026 | EVENT
Language Shift and Code-Switching in Gibraltar: A Case Study of Young Adults
Gibraltar, a small yet culturally and linguistically rich territory, offers a fascinating site for observing how languages coexist, interact, and evolve. This talk focuses on young adults and their everyday linguistic practices, with particular attention to code-switching and the shifting balance between English, Spanish, and Llanito. Beyond describing communicative patterns, the presentation will reflect on how bilingualism and code-switching shape not only public interaction but also diverse spheres of private life, from family conversations to peer networks. By considering participants’ own perspectives on the value and role of Llanito and other codes, the talk will explore the ways in which language choice indexes identity, belonging, and social positioning. Rather than engaging in dense theoretical discussion, the aim is to provide an overview of how code-switching functions among younger speakers in Gibraltar today, and to examine how these practices illuminate broader questions of language contact, community, and change in this unique Mediterranean context.
