Oldal 47 [47]
OPTIMALITY THEORY IN ANALYZING BILINGUAL USE
instances of code-switches, resulting from the reduced linguistic com¬
petence of speakers (due to language loss, attrition, unstable bilingual¬
ism) as well as instances of code-switches filling up linguistic gaps, or
borrowings are excluded from the scope of this framework.
(m) OT for bilingual grammar does not set the direction of code-switching
as inherently more meaningful than the other one in relation of the
codes. It premises that the switch per se can be meaningful irrespective
of the direction of switching. Therefore, code-switching of any direction
from/to the switched codes is included in the scope of examination.
(n) A comprehensive list of all the socio-pragmatic meaning-making func¬
tions (over 130) of code-switching in the relevant literature (120 studies)
have been classified under five principles (see the comprehensive list in
Appendix 1), which act as universal but soft constraints. They are as
follows: the Principle of Interpretive Faithfulness (FAITH), the Prin¬
ciple of Symbolic Domination (POWER), the Principle of Social Concur¬
rence (SOLIDARITY), the Principle of Face Management (FACE), and
the Principle of Perspective Taking (PERSPECTIVE).
The principles of Optimality Theory in analyzing bilingual use
In the following subsection, the five principles acting as sociopragmatic
constraints are discussed in more detail. First, the principle of Faithful
Interpretiveness (FAITH) is elaborated on.
1 The principle of faithful interpretiveness [FAITH]
Bhatt and Bolonyai claim that such instances of code-switching can be
subsumed in the principle of faithful interpretiveness which “maximize
informativity with respect to specificity of meaning and economy of expression.
Actors code-switch to the language that more faithfully and economically
captures the intended conceptual, semantic-pragmatic, often socio-culturally
or ideologically grounded, meaning”!.
In other words, the main socio-pragmatic function of code-switches
classified under the principle of faithful interpretiveness is to express the most
economically and faithfully the intended meaning of the speaker when the
semantic-conceptual attribute of the monolingual candidate does not allow its
most optimal meaning-making formation. All Faith-related instances enable
the speaker to index or construct the most optimal interpretive conceptual,
ideological, socio-cultural meaning of an utterance in a community-specific,
108 Bhatt — Bolonyai, Ibid., 526