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Bilingual Strategies: The Social Functions of Code- Switching

Bilingual Strategies: The Social Functions of Code- Switching CAROL MYERS SCOTTON AND WILLIAM URY Our purpose in this paper is to answer the question, "Why do speakers codeswitch?" We define code-switching as the use of two or more linguistic varieties in the same conversation or interaction. The switch may be for only one word or for several minutes of speech. The varieties may be anything from genetically unrelated languages to two styles of the same language. The use of solitary, established loan words or phrases is not considered codeswitching. It is recognized, however, that to provide criteria to differentiate established loans from nonestablished ones is a difficult task and is beyond the scope of this paper. Our general hypothesis is this: code-switching occurs because at least one speaker wishes to redefine the interaction by moving it to a different social arena. There is, therefore, a relationship between (a) the linguistic code used and (b) the social meaning of the interaction. Earlier attempts to treat code-switching systematically have provided a classification of switches into two types (Blom and Gumperz 1972). The sociolinguistic mechanics of language choice which make code-switching possible and even probable are the basis for this classification. The two types are situational, including shift for http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of the Sociology of Language de Gruyter

Bilingual Strategies: The Social Functions of Code- Switching

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Publisher
de Gruyter
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Walter de Gruyter
ISSN
0165-2516
eISSN
1613-3668
DOI
10.1515/ijsl.1977.13.5
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

CAROL MYERS SCOTTON AND WILLIAM URY Our purpose in this paper is to answer the question, "Why do speakers codeswitch?" We define code-switching as the use of two or more linguistic varieties in the same conversation or interaction. The switch may be for only one word or for several minutes of speech. The varieties may be anything from genetically unrelated languages to two styles of the same language. The use of solitary, established loan words or phrases is not considered codeswitching. It is recognized, however, that to provide criteria to differentiate established loans from nonestablished ones is a difficult task and is beyond the scope of this paper. Our general hypothesis is this: code-switching occurs because at least one speaker wishes to redefine the interaction by moving it to a different social arena. There is, therefore, a relationship between (a) the linguistic code used and (b) the social meaning of the interaction. Earlier attempts to treat code-switching systematically have provided a classification of switches into two types (Blom and Gumperz 1972). The sociolinguistic mechanics of language choice which make code-switching possible and even probable are the basis for this classification. The two types are situational, including shift for

Journal

International Journal of the Sociology of Language – de Gruyter

Published: Jan 1, 1977

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