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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evident in English/Afrikaans codeswitching, as well as arguments <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> reasons<br />
speakers engage in codeswitching.<br />
In terms <strong>of</strong> social <strong>motivations</strong>, <strong>the</strong> study found that English/Afrikaans codeswitching is<br />
influenced by situational <strong>and</strong> contextual factors. Codeswitching is associated with ingroup<br />
membership <strong>and</strong> allows speakers access to simultaneous roles <strong>and</strong> identities. In<br />
addition, codeswitching <strong>of</strong>ten signals changes in <strong>the</strong> tone or topic <strong>of</strong> a conversation <strong>and</strong><br />
may be used to fill lexical or pragmatic gaps. Codes may also be switched as a means <strong>of</strong><br />
expressing emotions, showing deference, <strong>and</strong> as a means <strong>of</strong> ei<strong>the</strong>r accommodating an<br />
addressee or putting up a social barrier. The data also showed that, even within a talk<br />
show, speakers are able to assign roles <strong>and</strong> identities <strong>and</strong> are able to portray<br />
concepts <strong>of</strong> ‘self’ <strong>and</strong> ‘o<strong>the</strong>r’.<br />
In addition, <strong>the</strong> study concluded that codeswitching across English <strong>and</strong> Afrikaans is<br />
governed by a unique set <strong>of</strong> <strong>constraints</strong> as a number <strong>of</strong> <strong>constraints</strong> regarded as universal<br />
do not apply. Thus, speakers engaging in English/Afrikaans codeswitching, even within<br />
<strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> a live radio talk show, are able to produce what <strong>the</strong>y consider to be valid<br />
switches regardless <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> <strong>constraints</strong> which would deem <strong>the</strong>m unacceptable.<br />
November 2006<br />
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