Realizing the strategic purpose： Code—switching and style—shifting in conversation

褚亮

【Abstract】Based on Monica Heller （1998）s assumption about code-swiching， this article is firstly discussing how code-switching can be purposely utilized as a strategic bilingual tool in conversation.Then， to explicate the implications of code-swtiching and style-shifting that may produce potential confusion for readers， it draws similarities and discrepancies between the two terms.

【Key Words】Code-switching， Style-shifting， Strategic tool， Discourse context；

The term Code-switching and Style-shifting has received growing attention from the academic researchers who attempt to explore the nature of code switching and style shifting， the reason why it is adopted and under what circumstance does it occur.Concentrating on formal analysis from a syntactic or morphosyntactic perspective， the early studies （e.g.Di Sciullo and Williams 1987； Belazi et al.1994） on code switching have been fruitful over the past several decades.However， by ignoring the function and meanings of language use， the structural focus research of code switching simply produce much models being regarded as the product of grammatical system， but fail to explain the reason or the effect of a particular switch （Chad Nilep， 2006）.Hence， this paper will first， based on the Monica Heller （1988）'s and the other relevant studies that are conducted within the social cultural framework， discuss how code-switching can be used for strategic purpose， and then by comparison， draw similarities and discrepancies between code-switching and style-shifting.

Two hypothesis were first put forward in Monica Heller （1988）'s article.She assumed that code-switching can be deployed to create ambiguity， which can allow "the simultaneous accomplishment of tasks through conversation and the management of conversation and of personal relationships through the avoidance of conflict which categorical language choice would entail （Heller， 1988.P 71）".On the premise of the her first hypothesis， Heller continued to argue that code-switching， in situations where a unilateral choice of categorical language would hinder one achieving his rhetorical purpose， could be accordingly adopted as strategy in that it offered opportunities for interpretation of the social action.By discussing the data drawing form the Montreal and the Toronto studies， Heller then elucidated that code-switching could be utilized as a strategic tool to fulfill rights and obligations relevant to different identities， manipulate the personal relationship and diverge or converge either to increase social distance or to show solidarity with their interlocutors.In the Montreal case， to illustrate， francophones and anglophones are seen reciprocally as exclusive groups with conflict claims.Code switching is used at the social boundary to mediate， exacerbate， or neutralize the conflict.endprint

Heller is not alone in her position that code-switching could be utilized for strategic purpose.Indeed， Carol Myers-Scotton， in her book Social Motivations for Codeswitching： Evidence from Africa （1993）， contends that each language in a multilingual community is associated with particular social roles， which she calls rights-and-obligations.By speaking a particular language， a participant signals her understanding of the current situation， and particularly her relevant role within the context and by using more than one language， speakers may initiate negotiation over relevant social roles.In this way， code-switching allows speaker access to rights and obligations associated with different social identities.This is especially seen in Carol Myer-Scotton （1993）'s study on code-switching in Zimbabwe and Kenya.According to Carol Myer-Scotton， the local speaker balances different aspects of their identity by switching between an African language and English.Having Observed the code-switching between creole and London English amongst the young British black speakers， Sebba （1993）， like Myer-Scotton， also states that code-switching is related to different aspects of a speaker's identity， and it renders them successfully achieve their rights and obligations regarding the identity.

A wealth of studies on code-switching has indicated that switching can take a variety of different forms.Speakers may switch from one language to another at a clause boundary， or they are capable of shifting between the linguistic registers and the dialects they command.Generally， we refer to such bilingual behavior as code-shifting and the monolingual one as style-shifting.Based on the same underlying principle， which has been described by one linguist as a need to utilize a more expressive range of words （Gal， 1979， p.95）， code-switching and style-shifting do share similarities， but in the same time， they also have distinctions to set them apart as the terms are frequently used interchangeably by many linguists.

As a common practice in monolingual discourse， style-shifting enables a speaker to shift from one style to another style as circumstances dictate.Take an everyday work situation for instance， an individual who is speaking to his workmate of equal status will use a style of discourse that is appropriate to the setting.The shift may be imperceptible， or there may be no shift at all.Nevertheless， if a third one who enjoys higher level in hierarchy joins the conversation， the shift is likely to be more pronounced.Considering the shift itself： syntax may become more formal， word choice more selective， and subject matter more refined.Driven by the same principle that is involved in style shifting： the need to adjust one's vocabulary and syntax to an appropriately comfortable level as dictated by the social hierarchy， code-switching is a form of style-shifting within the bilingual discourse constraint （Kirschner， 1984； Romaine， 1989）， which manifests the primary difference between the two.In brief， style-shifting is a phenomenon that is most often identified within monolingual discourse， whereas code-switching is primarily discussed in terms of bilingual discourse.endprint

This paper has discussed code-switching and style-shifting： it has looked at how speakers switch between English and other languages to communicate aspects of their identity， and negotiate relationship with others.Then， through analysis of the concepts and the strategic usage of code-switching and style-shifting， the paper finds， on the one hand， code-switching and style-shifting are quite similar in that they are driven by the same sociolinguistic impulse and implemented for the same strategic purpose； on the other hand， the differentiating discourse context---monolingual as opposed to bilingual---in which code-switching and style-shifting occurs could be seen as a distinction that sets them apart.

References：

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