# The Role of Interlocutor Behavior on Code Switching Patterns in Bilingual Children with and without Developmental Language Disorders

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · 2024 · $37,039

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Code-switching (alternation between language in a single utterance) is a common phenomenon observed
among bilingual children with typical and atypical language, including children with developmental language
disorder (DLD). Code-switching requires the speaker to integrate morphosyntactic features in both languages;
therefore, language proficiency and social factors are important factors to consider when analyzing code-
switching patterns. Current research on code-switching in children with DLD is limited by methodological
issues, including problems with coding approaches, elicitation tasks, and accounting for children's language
development. To address these issues, this proposed study will use a comprehensive coding method and a
conversational elicitation task to examine code-switching patterns in bilingual children with and without DLD.
The study will consider two perspectives, linguistic and sociolinguistic, to understand how language ability
interacts with this phenomenon. The study will involve a Diapix task with three different interlocutors (English-
only, Spanish-only, and bilingual Spanish-English). The conversations will be recorded, transcribed, and
coded. This study aligns with the National Institute of Health's (NIH) vision and mission statement of seeking
fundamental knowledge to advance diagnostic practices for clinicians working with bilingual Spanish-English
speaking children globally. Ultimately, this project aims to provide essential and innovative research in the area
of bilingual language disorder, while also training a promising new investigator in ethical, methodological, and
substantive research practices.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10918106
- **Project number:** 5F31DC021619-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Michelle Hernandez
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $37,039
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-21 → 2026-08-20

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10918106

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10918106, The Role of Interlocutor Behavior on Code Switching Patterns in Bilingual Children with and without Developmental Language Disorders (5F31DC021619-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10918106. Licensed CC0.

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