grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
grammatical constraints and motivations for - University of the ...
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providing a strong argument that codeswitching patterns evident in <strong>the</strong>ir speech<br />
do not always correspond completely with <strong>constraints</strong> put <strong>for</strong>ward by some<br />
researchers. The rationale behind this research is to explain why speakers engage<br />
in codeswitching, as well as to evaluate contextual <strong>and</strong> situational factors that play<br />
a role in encouraging speakers to switch languages.<br />
Deviation from <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard language <strong>of</strong>ten has a stigma attached to it because a<br />
good comm<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard variety is <strong>of</strong>ten associated with prestige, whereas<br />
non-st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>for</strong>ms may be associated with lower social status <strong>and</strong> lower<br />
educational levels. Using two languages in <strong>the</strong> same utterance <strong>of</strong>ten implies that<br />
speakers are not fully competent in one language <strong>and</strong>, <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, compensate <strong>for</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>ir linguistic inability by switching to an alternate language. This, however,<br />
may not necessarily be <strong>the</strong> case as codeswitching is complex <strong>and</strong> speakers may,<br />
instead, require a good comm<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> both languages in order <strong>for</strong> successful<br />
switching to take place.<br />
Through this research I aim to encourage a way <strong>of</strong> thinking that does not demean<br />
an individual’s linguistic ability because he or she engages in codeswitching.<br />
Instead, I would like to argue that codeswitching is a means <strong>of</strong> self expression <strong>and</strong><br />
that it is not due to <strong>the</strong> inability to express oneself in a single language. It is my<br />
aim to demonstrate <strong>the</strong> reverse, arguing that, instead, codeswitching is used to add<br />
variety <strong>and</strong> flavour to communication by producing new phrases <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong>ming a<br />
unique mixture <strong>of</strong> words when communicating.<br />
Fur<strong>the</strong>r, I will argue that codeswitching is complex <strong>and</strong> that <strong>the</strong>re are <strong>constraints</strong><br />
on what may or may not be switched. Switching is not a matter <strong>of</strong> merely<br />
substituting a word or phrase from ano<strong>the</strong>r language because not any phrase can<br />
be substituted anywhere. Gumperz (1976), Joshi (1985)(cited in Myers-Scotton,<br />
1993b), Poplack (1990), Myers-Scotton (1993b), Muysken (1995) <strong>and</strong> many o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
researchers have shown that <strong>constraints</strong> do exist <strong>and</strong> that codeswitching does not<br />
take place r<strong>and</strong>omly, but is governed by rules or <strong>constraints</strong>. There<strong>for</strong>e,<br />
individuals hold a sort <strong>of</strong> <strong>grammatical</strong> framework which influences <strong>the</strong> ways in<br />
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