The aim of this book is not to revisit work done on code-switching as a verbal strategy but to
discuss code-switching in electronic writing. Sociolinguistic approaches have focused mainly on
the analysis of oral productions. What is the position with regard to writing and more
specifically electronic writing? In this collection dealing with code-switching situations in
electronic writing the contributors give answers to the following major question: what happens
when multilingual writers who belong to social networks virtual or otherwise communicate
among themselves in one or more common languages? Special attention is given to code-switching
both in CMCs (Computer-Mediated Communications) and in mobile phone use. Given the constraints
inherent in both types of communication the written productions they give rise to do not show
the same features and therefore do not call for the same treatment.
