BILINGUAL CONVERSATIONAL STRATEGIES (handout)

Code Switching - conversations among bilinguals typically involve code switching.

(code switching differs significantly from borrowing in that when words are borrowed
there are sound and intonational adaptations to the borrower's language, in code switching such
sound alterations do not occur [at least not so obviously])
Situational Switching - the differential use of the languages depending on the
situation. (Edna Koenig - Belize, Joan Rubin Paraguay) - spoken of above.
Conversational Switching - is the change of languages within conversational episodes,
and often intra-sententially.
Bilinguals use code-switching for various expressive functions, including emphasis
and the marking of group identity. In fact code switching has numerous discourse and
interactional functions, such as
(1) signaling in-group/out-group membership,
(2) emphasizing,
(3) marking discourse boundaries,and
(4) expressing emotions or opinions.
Conversational Switching has a variety of linguistic and interactional functions:
(1) Switching for ease of vocabulary. (ease of finding a word, expanding vocabulary)
"bilingual speakers may employ a word form one language in sequences spoken in another
because the latter lacks a comparable word expressing the desired meaning. allow for the simpler
usage.
In some cases, both languages may actually have words with similar meanings, but the
structure of one may be more cumbersome than the other. Speakers often opt for the simpler
expression" (355).
Instances of using the more accessible word may depend on speakers' linguistic abilities
in their two languages or momentary lapses of memory. (356)
necesito un string para la kite
(2) Switching to express affect. Use of words in one language rather than the other may
symbolize the speaker's "involvement in the message"
They tell me, "How did you quit Mary?" I don't quitI just stopped. I mean
it wasn't an effort that I made que voy a dejar de fumar por que me hace dao o
(that I'm going to stop smoking because it's harmful to me or)
this or that uh-uh. It's just that I used to pull butts out of the waste paper basket,
yeah. I used to go look in the se me acababan los cigarros en la noche
(my cigarettes would run out on me at night).
I'd get desperate y ahi voy al basurero a buscar, a sacar
(and there I go to the wastebasket to look for some, to get some),
you know.

(e.g. Gumperz discussion of attempts to quit smoking Spanish statements are personalized
while English reflects more distance)
Bilingual speakers often feel more emotionally attuned to their first language and more
apt to express feelings through it. In some cases, however, speakers may switch
from their native language in order to avoid sensitive issues and to adopt emotional
distance or neutrality.
(3) Switching to express social values
Words may be transferred from one language to another because of social values
associated with knowledge of a prestige code.
Itanaa money aayaa kahaan se? "Where did so much money come from?" (Hindi)
(4) Switching to mark discourse boundaries (turns, quotes, parenthetical expressions,
focus shift, addressee shift, topic shift)
(5) attention getting device - in such cases it is the fact of switching itself that carries
the (contrastive) meaning
(6) highlighting a part of discourse code switching within sentences or discourse
highlights transferred elements and can be used as a dramatic device in narrative.
(7) emphasis by repetition in both codes
(8) signaling change in syntactic construction occurring within a speaker's turn
(e.g. from statement to command)
(9) switching can occur within a sentence to segment phrases or clauses that mark
qualification, explanation, or elaboration.
That has nothing to do with con que hagan ese (the fact that they are doing this)
(10) Switching may signal a shift of focus within a discourse (e.g. from action to a
comment or evaluation; shift of addressee; shift of topic within conversations.
Lo peg aqui; I saw it (he hit him here)
(11) Switching may separate a speaker's turn into segments that fulfill contrasting
functions.
(12) Code switching sometimes appears to be motivated or triggered by words within
sentences. If a foreign word is transferred into the base language it often triggers
subsequent switches of words or clauses.
Fluent bilinguals (usually older) switched more often, in more complicated structural
environments, and with greater interactional sophistication than did less linguistically
competent (usually younger) children (McClure).