Satirizing 'code-switching' on screen

The comedy film "Sorry To Bother You" satirizes something you probably do without even thinking about it: code-switching. Linguists describe this as the "process of shifting from one linguistic code ... to another." These "linguistic codes" include languages, dialects or even accents and tones of voice. Most of us may not realize it's happening, but we do it to fit in or even help further our careers.

Class discussion: Do you speak differently in a classroom than you do talking with friends outside of school? Do you speak differently at home with your family? Listen to those around you. Do they speak differently according to their surroundings? Is the whole concept of “speaking correctly” a form of bias? Do we need to accept common forms of speech, grammar and writing to communicate with each other? Can slang or dialect hinder effective communication?