Are there syntactic constraints on code‐mixing?

Abstract

This study provides a critical review of the syntactic study of code-mixing with particular reference to the syntactic constraints paradigm. It examines seven major surface constraints deemed to have universal applicability and shows on the basis of cross-linguistic data that none of them Is universal. It is argued in the light of this finding that the postulation of universal syntactic constraints on code-mixing may be premature and that the constraint-oriented theory to the study of this phenomenon is descriptively inadequate because it fails to explicate its socio-psycholinguistics. The study maintains that factors such as degree of multilinguulity, who speaks whut vuriety of lunguuge to whom, when, andfor whut reuson are crucial parameters in the formulation of an adequate theory of code-switching and code-mixing. To achieve this objective, it is suggested that researchers integrate in their analysis three different but interrelated types of data: structural, psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic.

Challenges in maintaining a heritage language

“…Code switching (CS) is the mixing of words, phrases, and sentences from two distinct grammatical systems or subsystems across sentence boundaries within the same speech event (Bokamba, 1989). In other words, code switching is a term in linguistics referring to replacement between two or more languages in a single conversation, stretch of discourse, or utterances between people who have more than one language in common.…”

Students’ Strategic Reactions to the Role of Native Language as a Medium of Instruction in English Classrooms

“…Both terms are used for the same practice by some scholars, while others utilize it for the formal linguistic characteristics of language-contact phenomena. Meanwhile, code-switching refers to the actual, spoken usages by multilingual individuals (Bokamba & Eyamba, 1989;Clyne, 2000;Genessee, 2000). Woon (2007, p. 1) defined codemixing as "change of one language to another within the same utterance or in the same oral/written text".…”

The Many Faces of Malaysian English

“…It relates to a closely structured community with a definite community life and feeling of belonging [1] The phenomenon of code-switching among bilingual and multilingual has been one of the most fascinating and intriguing topics in synchronic linguistics in the last fifteen years" [51]. Mesolect mixing refers to "lexicalization quite prevalent even for words having international substitutes" [45].…”