Investigating the Phonological Assimilation Patterns of Code-Switching in Urban Multilingual Speech: A Cross-Loci Acoustic Analysis

Project Abstract

This study investigates phonological assimilation patterns observed in code-switching within urban multilingual speech through a cross-loci acoustic analysis, integrating sociolinguistic context with empirical phonetics to illuminate how language contact shapes segmental and suprasegmental realisations across diverse urban speech communities. Drawing on a corpus of conversational data collected from multilingual speakers in metropolitan areas, the research examines how phonological features from participating languages influence each other in switching episodes, with particular attention to segmental assimilation, boundary phenomena, prosodic alignment, and rhythmic-monaural vs. bilingual speaker strategies. The methodology combines segmental error analysis, spectral peak and formant tracking, voice onset time, and moraic timing measurements, alongside amplitude envelope and intonation contour modelling, to quantify cross-language influence at micro-phonetic levels and macro-prosodic patterns. A mixed-methods design couples quantitative acoustic metrics with qualitative ethnographic notes, enabling triangulation of phonetic convergence with social variables such as speaker identity, interlocutor type, discourse function, and situational domain. The analysis tests several hypotheses (1) phonetic convergence is contingent upon language dominance and proximity of phonological inventories; (2) code-switching events exhibit systematic phonological realisations rather than random transfer, with predictable carryover effects in segmental features such as voicing, place of articulation, and vowel quality; (3) prosodic adaptation—intonational patterns, stress placement, and rhythm—reflects discourse-pragmatic needs and audience design, modulating perceived fluency and group solidarity. Findings reveal robust cross-loci assimilation where segments and prosody from the recipient language influence the switching language's pronunciation, particularly at morpheme boundaries and lexical content words embedded within base language discourse. The study identifies spectral diffusion in adjacent vowels, partial assimilation of alveolar and velar stops, and alignment of intonation phrases with the surrounding language context, contributing to a nuanced model of sequential and simultaneous contact phenomena. Additionally, the research discusses how social meaning is negotiated through phonetic choices, with speaker communities leveraging assimilation patterns to signal bilingual competence, in-group affiliation, or prestige, while maintaining communicative clarity. The results have implications for theoretical models of phonology in contact, challenge assumptions about impermeability of phonological systems during code-switching, and offer practical insights for speech technology development, including improved automatic speech recognition and language identification in multilingual urban environments. The study concludes with recommendations for future work, emphasizing larger-scale cross-city comparisons, longitudinal analyses of sociophonetic change, and the integration of perception-based experiments to assess listener judgments of assimilatory cues in mixed-language speech.

Project Overview

What This Project Is About

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This project looks at how people switch between languages in busy, real-world speech and how this switching changes sounds. It examines whether the pronunciation of words shifts to match the language being spoken and how listeners perceive these changes in everyday conversations among multilingual speakers in urban settings.

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The Problem It Addresses

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Objectives of the Project

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1. Describe how phonemes (speech sounds) from different languages influence each other during code-switching.
2. Identify consistent patterns of sound changes across speakers and contexts.
3. Explore whether these patterns depend on factors like age, gender, or language dominance.
4. Assess implications for speech perception and intelligibility in multilingual settings.
5. Provide practical insights for language technology and education.

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What You Will Do Step by Step

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1. Learn basic concepts of phonology and code-switching in a non-technical way.
2. Collect short speech samples from multilingual urban speakers (with consent).
3. Annotate when code-switching happens and what sounds are affected.
4. Analyze sound patterns with simple comparison across languages.
5. Look for consistent trends and possible social factors.
6. Interpret results in clear, non-technical terms and discuss practical implications.

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Expected Outcome

You should finish with a clear description of how phonological changes occur during code-switching, plus ideas for applications in education or language technology. The study will illuminate how urban multilingual speech adapts, supporting better communication tools and informing teaching practices.