LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Socio-Linguistic Constraints of Code Switching in
Hindi-English-Kannada Multilinguals

Mandira Bhattacharjee
Natasha Rahman
Shyamala Chengappa, Ph.D.

Introduction

In many situations of languages in contact, constituents of one language can be found with the constituents of another language in a number of linguistic phenomena, namely lexical borrowing, transferring, interference, diffusion, reflexification, code switching and code mixing, etc. (Annamalai ,1989). Code switching and code mixing are the two linguistic phenomena claimed to be the most prevalent and common modes of interaction among multilingual speakers. They can occur in all the levels of language (phonological, lexical, semantics, syntactic) and in all modalities (spoken or written language). Brock and Eastman (1971) suggest that topic discussed influences the choice of the language. It was seen that markers and the pauses might be used to predict the likelihood of the code switches regardless of the topic, speaker and setting or where in a sentence the switch occurs.

Code-switching

Code-switching is a common phenomenon in societies in which two or more languages are used. Studies of code-switching enhance our understanding of the nature, processes and constraints of language (Myers-Scotton, 1993a; Azuma, 1998), and of the relationship between language use and individual values, communicative strategies, language attitudes and functions within particular socio-cultural contexts. (Auer, 1998; Jacobson, 1998; Myers-Scotton, 1993b; Lüdi, 2003)

Patterns of Code-switching

Patterns of code-switching are found to be different from one another because of several distinct processes such as 'insertion', 'alternation' and 'congruent lexicalization'. These three processes correspond to dominant models, and approaches (Muysken, 2000). The approach associated with Myers-Scotton (1993) that departs from the notion of 'insertion' views "the constraints in terms of the structural properties of some base or matrix structure. Here the process of code-mixing is conceived as the insertion of an alien lexical or phrasal category into a given structure" (Muysken, 2000). Another approach which departs from alternation is Poplack's (1980) that views "the constraints on mixing in terms of the compatibility or equivalence of the languages involved at the switch point"(Muysken, 2000).

Various Approaches

The identification of various constraints, though sometimes controversial, has inspired a great deal of work in syntax, morphology, and phonology. A structural focus has been similarly constructive for production models (e.g. Azuma 1991) or as evidence for grammatical theory (e.g. MacSwann 2000; Jake, Myers-Scotton and Gross 2002). By ignoring questions of function or meaning, though, this structural focus fails to answer basic questions of why switching occurs. Auer (1984) warns, "Grammatical restrictions on code-switching are but necessary conditions" they are not sufficient to describe the reason for or effect of a particular switch. Code switching can serve different purposes as shown by the different researchers (Grosjean 1982), like quoting, repetition, addressee specification, clarification, emphasis, elaboration, personalization, interjection, topic shift etc. this code switching has been shown to be a complex rule governed phenomenon that requires a high degree of linguistic competence in more than one language.

Looking Beyond Formal Features

This paper is, thus, positioned within the discipline of sociocultural linguistics, an emerging (or one might say, revitalized) approach to linguistics that looks beyond formal interests, to the social and cultural functions and meanings of language use.

Valdes- Fallis (1978) defines codes switching as the alternating use of two languages at word phrase, or at the sentence level, with a clear break between the phonemic systems. Poplack (1980) delineated four characteristics of language mixing in the normal bilingual adults:

• Smooth transition between L1 (first language) and L2 (second language) without false starts, hesitations and lengthy pauses.
• Seeming unawareness of alternation between the languages.
• Switches composed of the segments larger than single nouns are inserted into an otherwise l2 sentence and
• Code switching is used for purposes other than conveying untranslatable items.

Function Words in Code-switching

The pattern of the mixing is very evident in multilingual in the linguistic form. Ringbom, (1987); Stedje, (1977); Vildomec, (1963); Williams & Hammarberg, (1998), studied the use of function words in third (L3) or fourth (L4) language written production in multilingual, which suggest that multilinguals seem to favor the use of functional words in their non native language rather than their native language production. Chengappa (1984) studied code alternation in a 3 year old child with Kannada- Kodava bilingual exposure. Code switching was evident at this age itself and was determined by the interlocutors, context, form and function of the interaction.

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