Language selection in code-switching: An analysis of nouns from Romanian-English code-switching Ariana Bancu University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1. Introduction Bilinguals have multiple linguistic representations for a concept, corresponding to each language (Bialystok, 2007). Thus, in the process of lexical selection, bilingual speakers have to choose between lexemes that share semantic representations across the two languages. Experiments have shown that there is between-language competition in the process of lexical selection, both from the first to the second language and vice-versa, even in late bilinguals who are dominant in their first language (Marian and Spivey, 2003). Because most concepts 1 are associated with synonymous, equally activated lexical nodes, bilinguals should encounter significant difficulties in lexical selection, yet it does not seem to be the case. Whether it is the case that bilinguals select just from the target lexicon, activate just the target lexicon, or suppress the lexicon that is not targeted, proficient bilinguals can speak clearly and effortlessly in one language and not the other (Finkbeiner, Gollan, and Caramazza, 2013). Furthermore, fluent bilinguals can switch effectively from one language to another without any difficulties. The language that is best suited for a given context is activated and thus employed by the bilingual. Previous studies have focused on how language production draws from the representational system for the relevant language, if there is interference from the other system, or facilitation between the two languages of a bilingual (Marian and Spivey, 2003; Colome, 2001). It has been shown that both languages of a bilingual are simultaneously active, even if only one of the languages is being used, and that the non-targeted language can actually facilitate word processing in the target language (VanHell and DeGroot, 1998; Finkbeiner et al, 2004). When a bilingual can use both of his/her languages in the same context, both languages are activated at a high level, and code-switching can occur (Grosjean, 2010). The purpose of the present study is to identify the factors that may lie behind the selection 1 Depending on the bilingual’s level of proficiency in the second language 13 Texas Linguistics Forum 57: 13-24 Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Symposium about Language and Society-Austin April 11-12, 2014 © Bancu 2014