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

called for by circumstances.” Deference may be expressed through politeness or
honorific titles, but switching to accommodate the addressee can be seen as a
major way of indicating deference.
Myers-Scotton (2006b: 206) argues that, “…when speakers switch languages, it is
generally because a word or phrase in the other language conveys the speaker’s
pragmatic intentions better”, but also claims that motivations for codeswitching
may be interpersonally based. Whether they do it consciously or subconsciously,
bilingual speakers make choices regarding which language to use. Speakers have
the ability to select one language over another, but also to use both
simultaneously. Myers-Scotton (2006a) argues that these choices are
interpersonally based as selection of a particular variety is indicative of an
individual’s view of self and their relationships with other participants involved in
the conversation.
Further, Myers-Scotton (2006a: 145) suggests that code choice is indexical of
‘self’ – “… for a bilingual, choosing to speak one language over another says
something about how that bilingual thinks of himself or herself.” Therefore,
codeswitching serves as a means of portraying one’s own identity, but enables
access to other identities associated with the second language.
From a sociolinguistic point of view, codeswitching presents bilingual speakers
with opportunities to express themselves in an endless variety of ways. On the
other hand, from a psycholinguistic point of view, according to Myers-Scotton
(1993b: 2), “codeswitching is a way to overcome difficulties in sentence –
planning by making use of the resources of more than one language…”
Franceschini (1998) views codeswitching as one possible result of speakers’
actions in a particular situation of language contact. However, Franceschini
(1998: 62) argues that codeswitching cannot be regarded as a social language,
acquired by generations of speakers, as it resembles interlanguages in that “both
are produced anew in each sociocultural situation and are not stable in time.”
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