Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutiny

Code switching is a phenomenon present in contexts where speakers use more than one variety. It is interesting for sociolinguistic studies to inquire into this behaviour and see whether it is an accidental behaviour or it follows certain rules and constraints. This paper aims to offer some of these...

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Main Author: Ghania Ouahmiche
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: University of Oran2 2011-12-01
Series:Traduction et Langues
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revue.univ-oran2.dz/revuetranslang/index.php/translang/article/view/864
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author Ghania Ouahmiche
author_facet Ghania Ouahmiche
author_sort Ghania Ouahmiche
collection DOAJ
description Code switching is a phenomenon present in contexts where speakers use more than one variety. It is interesting for sociolinguistic studies to inquire into this behaviour and see whether it is an accidental behaviour or it follows certain rules and constraints. This paper aims to offer some of these grammatical aspects of code-switching observed in an Algerian context, mainly in the speech of bilingual speakers at university. Our prime objective is to explain the different manifestations of the formal properties of two typologically different codes; Algerian Arabic and French and their implications in shaping the syntactic/pragmatic structures in mixed codes. Then, our aim is not to attribute each switch a function since our frame of reference is not functional but we try to explain the ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions differently. The centre of our interest is the socio-pragmatic reality of syntactic constituents in bilingual speech. The analysis of our AA/Fr CS and MSA/AA code-switched data is based on Myers-Scotton’s MLF and its supportive models. In the MLF approach, there is always an asymmetry between the languages involved in CS. One of the major shortcomings of the MLF model discussed in the literature is the inadequacy of the notion of the CP as a unit of analysis. Reducing the matrix language to a property of a CP restricts the constraints on code-switching into purely structural limitations and therefore ignores other determining factors in shaping code- switched sentence patterns, be they socio-linguistic or psycho-linguistic.
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spelling doaj.art-0a23afc6635843f2bebffa01920064fa2023-08-22T20:04:34ZdeuUniversity of Oran2Traduction et Langues1112-39742600-62352011-12-01102Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutinyGhania Ouahmiche0University of Oran - Algeria Code switching is a phenomenon present in contexts where speakers use more than one variety. It is interesting for sociolinguistic studies to inquire into this behaviour and see whether it is an accidental behaviour or it follows certain rules and constraints. This paper aims to offer some of these grammatical aspects of code-switching observed in an Algerian context, mainly in the speech of bilingual speakers at university. Our prime objective is to explain the different manifestations of the formal properties of two typologically different codes; Algerian Arabic and French and their implications in shaping the syntactic/pragmatic structures in mixed codes. Then, our aim is not to attribute each switch a function since our frame of reference is not functional but we try to explain the ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions differently. The centre of our interest is the socio-pragmatic reality of syntactic constituents in bilingual speech. The analysis of our AA/Fr CS and MSA/AA code-switched data is based on Myers-Scotton’s MLF and its supportive models. In the MLF approach, there is always an asymmetry between the languages involved in CS. One of the major shortcomings of the MLF model discussed in the literature is the inadequacy of the notion of the CP as a unit of analysis. Reducing the matrix language to a property of a CP restricts the constraints on code-switching into purely structural limitations and therefore ignores other determining factors in shaping code- switched sentence patterns, be they socio-linguistic or psycho-linguistic. https://revue.univ-oran2.dz/revuetranslang/index.php/translang/article/view/864Grammatical aspectscode-switchingtypologicallysocio-pragmaticMyers-ScottonMLF approach
spellingShingle Ghania Ouahmiche
Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutiny
Traduction et Langues
Grammatical aspects
code-switching
typologically
socio-pragmatic
Myers-Scotton
MLF approach
title Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutiny
title_full Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutiny
title_fullStr Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutiny
title_full_unstemmed Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutiny
title_short Matrix-Language Approaches to Classic Code-Switching: the MLF and 4-M models under scrutiny
title_sort matrix language approaches to classic code switching the mlf and 4 m models under scrutiny
topic Grammatical aspects
code-switching
typologically
socio-pragmatic
Myers-Scotton
MLF approach
url https://revue.univ-oran2.dz/revuetranslang/index.php/translang/article/view/864
work_keys_str_mv AT ghaniaouahmiche matrixlanguageapproachestoclassiccodeswitchingthemlfand4mmodelsunderscrutiny