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NEW PERSPECTIVES
the intended meaning of the code-switched instance has to be decoded by the
listener based on pragmatic principles relevant in the particular context. In
other words, the act of code-switching is a textualization cue per se, however,
its contextualizing function is actualized by the listeners interpretation based
on pragmatic principles instantiated in a particular situation.
The other perspective goes more in line with the constructivist,
phenomenology based approach in social sciences. Gafaranga sees language
as a means of constructing its social reality, as a membership categorization
device". Therefore, code-switching, as any linguistic choice, has to be
examined as a way of (re)constructing social reality. Individuals (re)construct
their realities by categorizing, identifying themselves in certain ways, and by
affiliating to the rest of their reality through their linguistic choices. Hence,
code-switching has to be examined as a linguistic device of a membership
categorization through its construction of (social) identities, roles, and
stances”. Various researchers have analyzed code-switching as a means of
identity construction”. Williams has focused her research more on code¬
switching as a means of assigning roles”. Jaffe has claimed that by examining
code-switching as a way of constructing stances, we can get more insight into
how speakers construct their realities with the help of code-switching™.
We have seen that there are divisive issues in the interpretation of code¬
switching as a meaning-making act. There are theories claiming that code¬
switching is a linguistic device used to construct and negotiate social realities®®.
Therefore, it cannot be interpreted as meaningful against the categories and
institutions of an assumed language-external and social reality. Consequently,
°° Gafaranga, Demythologizing language alternation studies, Journal of Pragmatics, 281-300
% Gafaranga, Ibid., 281-300
"2 Ben Rampton, Language crossing and the redefinition of reality, in: Peter Auer (ed.), Code¬
switching in Conversation. Language Interaction and Identity, London, New York: Routledge,
1998, 290-317; Charles Antaki — Sue Widdicombe, Identity as an achievement, in: Charles
Antaki — Sue Widdicombe (eds.), Identities in Talk, 1-14, London, Sage Publications, 1998,
1-14; Torras — Gafaranga, Social identities and language alternation, Language in Society,
527-548; Auer, A postscript, Journal of Pragmatics, 403-410; Katherine Hoi Ying Chen, The
social distinctiveness of two code-mixing styles in Hong Kong, in: James Cohen, Kara T.
McAlister, Kellie Rolstad, and Jeff MacSwan (eds.), ISB4: Proceedings of the 4th International
Symposium on Bilingualism, Somerville, MA, Cascadilla Press, 2005, 527-542
Ashley M. Williams, Fighting words and challenging expectations, Journal of Pragmatics, 37
(2005), 317-328
Alexandra Jaffe, Code-switching and stances; Issues in interpretation. Journal of Language,
Identity, and Education, 6(1) (2007), 53-77
Rampton, Language crossing, 290-317; Antaki - Widdicombe, Identity as an achievement,
1-14; Torras — Gafaranga, Social identities and language alternation, Language in Society,
527-548; Gafaranga, Demythologizing language alternation studies, Journal of Pragmatics,
281; Auer, A postscript, Journal of Pragmatics, 403-410; Chen, The social distinctiveness of
two code-mixing styles in Hong Kong, 527-542; Williams, Fighting words and challenging
expectations, Journal of Pragmatics, 317-328; Jaffe, Code-switching and stances, Journal of
Language, Identity, and Education, 53-77
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