Code accommodation as a measure of inclusion for bilingual people living with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type

Abstract

This case study explores the dynamics of code choices in interactions involving bilingual people living with dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type (DAT) and their primary care partners, focusing on two narrative interviews held in private settings. Drawing on a combination of Communication Accommodation Theory and Conversation Analysis, it takes account of the patterns, communicative functions and effects of code choices and code switching as practices of interactional adjustment. The qualitative analysis sheds light on inclusive and non-inclusive interactional adjustments expressed through code choices by individual speakers, especially focusing on code accommodation at turn boundaries. Results indicate a high language awareness in the two speakers living with DAT and positive communicational outcomes when code accommodation is performed by the conversational partner.