1、专 业 外国语言学及应用语言学 研究方向 翻译与翻译研究 学生类别 硕士生 任课教师 李芳军 成 绩 The Nature of Code SwitchingbyWang YunchangSchool of English StudiesXian International Studies UniversityXian, China2012AbstractCode switching, as a linguistic phenomenon, has aroused interest of many linguists. This paper tries to study the classif
2、ication, motivation and other aspects of the code switching from the perspective of sociolinguistics to explore its nature.Key words: code switching; classification; motivation; 1 Introduction Code switching occurs when a single speaker uses different varieties of languages at different times （Wardh
3、augh, R. 2007）. The phenomenon of code switching has attracted the attention of researchers from various fields and has been studied from different perspectives. First of all, the paper presents what the code switching is and adopts a sociolinguistic perspective to classify code switching into two t
4、ypes. Also, this paper tries to study the nature and motivation of the code switching and presents some social implications of this interesting phenomenon in order to help people get a better understanding of how and why it arises and how it functions in our social life.2 .The definition of code swi
5、tching A code is the particular dialect of language that a person chooses to use on any occasion, a system used for communication between two or more parties （Holmes, J. 2011）. It is a rule for converting a piece of information （for example, a letter, word, phrase, or gesture） into another form or r
6、epresentation （one sign into another sign）, not necessarily of the same type. Code-switching is switching between two or more languages, or language varieties, in the context of a single conversation（王瑾, 黄国文.）. It is a conversational strategy used to establish, cross or destroy group boundaries; to
7、create, evoke or change interpersonal relations with their rights and obligations. Bilinguals,people who speak more than one language,sometimes use elements of multiple languages in conversing with each other. Thus, code-switching is the use of more than one linguistic variety in a manner consistent
8、 with the syntax and phonology of each variety （席红梅）.3. The classification of code switching It has become more and more common that some people develop a knowledge and ability in a second language and so become a bilingual or they know several varieties of one language. they often switch between la
9、nguages or varieties when they are in the middle of conversation. These code switches can take place between or even within sentences, involving phrases or words or even parts of words, thus different types of code switching can be distinguished. In the following part of this paper, code switching w
10、ill be divided into two types; and the sociolinguistic factors involved in each type will be presented through exploring examples from real life situations.3.1 Situational Code Switching Situational code switching occurs when the languages used change according to the situations in which the convers
11、ants find themselves （Fasold, R. 2007）: they speak one language in one situation and another in a different one. No topic change is involved. Some linguists also call this kind of switching diglossia, which occurs when each point of switching corresponds to a change of situation. The term“diglossia”
12、was introduced into the English language literature on sociolinguistics by Charles Ferguson in 1959 in order to describe the situation found in places like Greece, the Arabic speaking world in general , German-speaking Switzerland and the island of Haiti （许朝阳）. In all these societies there are two d
13、istinct varieties, and one is used only on formal and public occasions while the other is used by everybody under normal everyday circumstances. Fergusons definition of diglossia is as follows:Diglossia is a relatively stable language situation in which, in addition to the primary dialects of the la
14、nguage （which may include a standardor regional standards）, there is a very divergent, highly codified （often grammatically more complex） superposed variety, the vehicle of a large and respected body of written literature, either of an earlier period or in another speech community, which is learned
15、largely by formal education and is used for most written and formal spoken purposes but is not used by any sector of the community for ordinary conversation.3.2 Metaphorical Code Switching Metaphorical code switching, according to Blomand Gumpertz, is a code switching where a variety normally used o
16、nly in one kind of situation is used in a different kind because the topic is the sort which would normally arise in the first kind of situation （Holmes, J. 2011）. More clearly, a change of topic requires a change of language. As the term itself suggests, metaphorical code switching has an affective
17、 dimension to it: you change the code as you redefine the situation-formal to informal, official to personal, serious to humorous, and politeness to solidarity. This kind of switch appears in some cases the situation is less clear, either because it is ambiguous or because the speaker decides to ign
18、ore the observable external situation and focus instead on less observable characteristics of the people concerned. Such cases, where it is the choice of language that determines the situation. In the course of a morning spent at the community administration office, we noticed that clerks used both
19、standard and dialect phrases, depending on whether they were talking about official affairs or not. Likewise, when residents step up to a clerks desk, greeting and inquires about family affairs tend to be exchanged in the dialect, while the business part of the transaction is carried on in the stand
20、ard.4. Social motivations for code switching There may be many reasons that people switch the code. Code switching relates to, and sometimes indexes social-group membership in bilingual and multilingual communities. Some sociolinguists describe the relationships between code switching behaviours and
21、 class, ethnicity, and other social positions. In addition, scholars in interactional linguistics and conversation analysis have studied code switching as a means of structuring talk in interaction. Some discourse analysts suggest that code switching does not simply reflect social situations, but th
22、at it is a means to create social situation （刘正光）. The motivations has some relationship with such switchings external social functions and users. According to the case studies conducted by many researchers on verbal and written code switchings, three key internal motivations and four main external
23、ones are concluded:4.1 Internal psychological motivations4.1.1 Explanation or emphasis on topics to attract attention, show off personal language skill or declare social positionAs shown in many interviews or talk shows, the interviewees or speakers always make switches to show his command of langua
24、ges of several countries. By doing such, much attention can be attracted. Besides, in some social areas, speakers may make a sudden switch to the H-variety code to declare his social status. Also, there are some speakers, by code switching, giving elaboration or emphasis on the topics.4.1.2 Attitude
25、s toward certain language Cases, such as feelings about the mother tongue, affection, admiration or despise of certain language, affect the code switching in the communication. For example, the social community of some kind of language apparently has a strong feeling about their mother tongue or dia
26、lect. Such commitment and affection also contribute to the code switching. One example which can be employed to clarify the case mentioned above is that in some public places, speakers may refuse to talk with the H-variety code or unconsciously switch to the native language.4.1.3 Accommodation and d
27、eviation When one claim to be one of the members of a community, code switching always happens. For example, a harmonious relationship is established when the listener employs the same code as the speaker does to shorten the psychological distance. Some foreigners will try their best to speaks sever
28、al Chinese expressions to show the solidarity and closeness with the audiences when they are in China. Leaders from other countries to China tactically employ phatic expressions such as 你好谢谢再见 to show friendliness to Chinese.4.2 External functional motivations4.2.1 Disappearance of equivalent lexica
29、l terms During communication, the speakers always switch the code to fill the gap resulted from forgetting or not finding suitable expressions to further continue the talk, for example, when talking about technical mattes or the speakers feel unsatisfied, exhausted or annoyed.4.2.2 For sake of savin
30、g time or convenience For example, expressions I often use QQ instead of MSN or do you install CAJ on your computer? are frequently used if the parties share the same background knowledge, in this way, code switching can make communication much more easier and freer.4.2.3 Code switching started by t
31、he other partyIn the middle of communication, if one switchs the code, the other will do the same by following the CP or principle of politeness to cultivate or change the relationship and position. Or the two bilinguals would get used to switching to the other code when talking. By this, special ef
32、fect will be made.4.2.4 Certain changes of the situation of communication The communicative situation to a certain extent affects the code people choose. Apart from choosing the different code according to different situation, sometimes code switching happens in the same situation with the change of participants.5.Some Sociolinguistic Implications of Code SwitchingHaving observed various kinds of code switching respectiv
