grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...

switching to Afrikaans, he also implies that the caller should portray himself as he
really is, instead of attempting to convey an ‘English’ identity (see turn 667).
Caller 19
The last call the host receives is rather peculiar in that the conversation is almost
entirely in English. Usually the host switches consistently, but not in this case,
where the only Afrikaans words he uses in the beginning of the conversation are
‘ja’ and ‘braai’. What is of significance in this conversation is that the host only
engages in codeswitching once the caller initiates it in turn 1010 – “Uh uh, ons is
Sea Ridge.”
This suggests that the host is accommodating the caller by addressing her in her
language of preference. In turn 1002, the caller reveals that she resides in
Mitchells Plain, which provides reason to believe that she is able to speak
Afrikaans. However, the host continues to speak English and only begins
switching once the caller does.
The first time the host switches to Afrikaans is in 1013 – “daar.” When the caller
goes on to respond in a completely Afrikaans sentence, only then does the host
revert to his usual style of conversation as he utilizes both languages.
Thus, the host accommodates the caller by continuously responding in the
language in which he was addressed. By doing so, he is able to ensure that both
of them are able to achieve their communicative goals. In the same way, the
caller attempts to establish a shared identity by addressing the host in his own
linguistic variety. By using a common language, the two are able to establish a
shared identity, while also ensuring that their communicative goals are achieved.
In conclusion, the discourse provides not just a clear impression of the ways in
which language can be manipulated in order to portray a variety of identities, but
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