grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ... grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
Elision also occurs in Kaapse Afrikaans when the negating element, ‘nie’, is used. As opposed to Standard Afrikaans which places [ni] after the verb, Kaapse Afrikaans simply attaches [I] to the end of the verb. The following are typical examples. 13. Ek is nie (Standard Afrikaans) Ek is’ie. (Kaapse Afrikaans) I am not. 14. Ek kan nie (Standard Afrikaans) Ek kan’ie (Kaapse Afrikaans) I cannot These are all typical instances in which Standard Afrikaans and Kaapse Afrikaans differ in terms of pronunciation. To summarize these differences briefly, the omission of phonemes seems to act as a means of simplification or brevity. This characteristic is evident and common in many other languages, but, in this case, it could be due to the close relationship that Afrikaans has with English. This elision is common in both the standard and the non-standard variety. The only distinguishing characteristic between the two varieties is the lowering of the diphthong [Iə]. This vowel change is a characteristic that is only evident in the Afrikaans spoken on the Cape Flats and is not found in Standard Afrikaans. 1.8 Aims and Objectives for the Study The main aim of this study is to investigate the patterns and motivations behind codeswitching within the Cape Coloured community in relation to social or motivational theories on codeswitching, as well as the various grammatical constraints that have been proposed. The main purpose of this research is to uncover and analyze the motivations behind codeswitching in bilingual speech communities in Cape Town, while also 26
providing a strong argument that codeswitching patterns evident in their speech do not always correspond completely with constraints put forward by some researchers. The rationale behind this research is to explain why speakers engage in codeswitching, as well as to evaluate contextual and situational factors that play a role in encouraging speakers to switch languages. Deviation from the standard language often has a stigma attached to it because a good command of the standard variety is often associated with prestige, whereas non-standard forms may be associated with lower social status and lower educational levels. Using two languages in the same utterance often implies that speakers are not fully competent in one language and, therefore, compensate for their linguistic inability by switching to an alternate language. This, however, may not necessarily be the case as codeswitching is complex and speakers may, instead, require a good command of both languages in order for successful switching to take place. Through this research I aim to encourage a way of thinking that does not demean an individual’s linguistic ability because he or she engages in codeswitching. Instead, I would like to argue that codeswitching is a means of self expression and that it is not due to the inability to express oneself in a single language. It is my aim to demonstrate the reverse, arguing that, instead, codeswitching is used to add variety and flavour to communication by producing new phrases and forming a unique mixture of words when communicating. Further, I will argue that codeswitching is complex and that there are constraints on what may or may not be switched. Switching is not a matter of merely substituting a word or phrase from another language because not any phrase can be substituted anywhere. Gumperz (1976), Joshi (1985)(cited in Myers-Scotton, 1993b), Poplack (1990), Myers-Scotton (1993b), Muysken (1995) and many other researchers have shown that constraints do exist and that codeswitching does not take place randomly, but is governed by rules or constraints. Therefore, individuals hold a sort of grammatical framework which influences the ways in 27
- Page 1 and 2: GRAMMATICAL CONSTRAINTS AND MOTIVAT
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- Page 9 and 10: 1.0 Introduction Chapter 1 Backgrou
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- Page 21 and 22: have always been exposed simultaneo
- Page 23 and 24: ) I have eaten an apple. The past t
- Page 25: also instances in which they do not
- Page 29 and 30: 1.10 Outline of the Study Chapter 1
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- Page 35 and 36: In this section, I attempt to provi
- Page 37 and 38: eferred to as RO) sets between part
- Page 39 and 40: example, Afrikaans speakers may swi
- Page 41 and 42: Further, Franceschini (1998: 62) st
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- Page 45 and 46: 3.0 Introduction Chapter 3 Grammati
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- Page 49 and 50: Constituent insertion differs from
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- Page 53 and 54: 4.0 Introduction Chapter 4 Research
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- Page 57 and 58: However, contrary to Auer’s 1984
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Elision also occurs in Kaapse Afrikaans when <strong>the</strong> negating element, ‘nie’, is used.<br />
As opposed to St<strong>and</strong>ard Afrikaans which places [ni] after <strong>the</strong> verb, Kaapse<br />
Afrikaans simply attaches [I] to <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> verb. The following are typical<br />
examples.<br />
13. Ek is nie (St<strong>and</strong>ard Afrikaans)<br />
Ek is’ie. (Kaapse Afrikaans)<br />
I am not.<br />
14. Ek kan nie (St<strong>and</strong>ard Afrikaans)<br />
Ek kan’ie (Kaapse Afrikaans)<br />
I cannot<br />
These are all typical instances in which St<strong>and</strong>ard Afrikaans <strong>and</strong> Kaapse Afrikaans<br />
differ in terms <strong>of</strong> pronunciation. To summarize <strong>the</strong>se differences briefly, <strong>the</strong><br />
omission <strong>of</strong> phonemes seems to act as a means <strong>of</strong> simplification or brevity. This<br />
characteristic is evident <strong>and</strong> common in many o<strong>the</strong>r languages, but, in this case, it<br />
could be due to <strong>the</strong> close relationship that Afrikaans has with English. This<br />
elision is common in both <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> non-st<strong>and</strong>ard variety. The only<br />
distinguishing characteristic between <strong>the</strong> two varieties is <strong>the</strong> lowering <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
diphthong [Iə]. This vowel change is a characteristic that is only evident in <strong>the</strong><br />
Afrikaans spoken on <strong>the</strong> Cape Flats <strong>and</strong> is not found in St<strong>and</strong>ard Afrikaans.<br />
1.8 Aims <strong>and</strong> Objectives <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Study<br />
The main aim <strong>of</strong> this study is to investigate <strong>the</strong> patterns <strong>and</strong> <strong>motivations</strong> behind<br />
codeswitching within <strong>the</strong> Cape Coloured community in relation to social or<br />
motivational <strong>the</strong>ories on codeswitching, as well as <strong>the</strong> various <strong>grammatical</strong><br />
<strong>constraints</strong> that have been proposed.<br />
The main purpose <strong>of</strong> this research is to uncover <strong>and</strong> analyze <strong>the</strong> <strong>motivations</strong><br />
behind codeswitching in bilingual speech communities in Cape Town, while also<br />
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