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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 codeswitching 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 codeswitching as a meaning-making act. There are theories claiming that codeswitching 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.), Codeswitching 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 93 94 95 + 35 +
