| Code-switching, a natural consequence of language contact, has become a well-researched topic in the field of sociolinguistics. The present study investigates the linguistic features and distribution patterns of Chinese-English code-switching in Chinese sports news reports, based on Myers-Scotton's Matrix Language Frame Model. The results reveal that singly occurring letters and lexemes in ML+EL constituents occur more frequently than embedded phrases and sentences which form EL islands, and English lexemes are found to be the most frequently embedded constituent in Chinese sports news reports, among which nouns take up the majority. It is also found that acronyms figure in the high percentage of nouns. Besides, half of the embedded English phrases and most of the embedded English sentences serve as repetitions of the preceding Chinese equivalents or are followed by bracketed Chinese translations. As far as distribution patterns are concerned, Chinese-English code-switching occurs more in foreign sports news reports than in domestic sports news reports and more in lead and body of the report than in headline. Finally, all the English sentences and nearly half of the English phrases are observed in direct quotations. The present study is of both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, it enriches the code-switching study in China. Practically, it offers some insights for sports writers and editors, for EFL teachers and for language policy makers in China.
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