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CHAPTER 4 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK At some point in the conversation, D stands up to make some tea. C, the mother asks D to make tea for A, the maid, as well. She starts her utterance in Kashmiri, when speaking to D, then, she switches to Hindi (line 5). In the first part of the utterance, she uses Kashmiri as that is the default language with her children. However, when she makes a request that involves A as well, asking D to make some tea for A, she switches to Hindi. The switch serves as an example of how code-switching can function as a means of expressing positive politeness. In her turn, C asks D some favor, that is, to make some tea for A. This request can be interpreted as a face-threatening act. In the deeply hierarchical Indian society, A is placed at a lower rank than the other members of the family, who are her employers. By switching to Hindi, C manages to maintain a positive face for the maid showing considerateness towards the maid’s needs, being aware of the fact that A understands Hindi, but not Kashmiri. The switch to Hindi fulfils some other functions as well. It also complies with Solidarity, as the common language of all the participants is Hindi. However, the children tend to speak Kashmiri (or English) with the mother. The mother, when making a request taking into consideration the maid’s needs — that she might also want some tea — as well as her language preference, which is Hindi, she switches back to Hindi. By doing so, she involves the maid in the conversation and expresses solidarity with her. Therefore, the switch also complies with the principle of Solidarity. The switch to Hindi from Kashmiri also indicates that the mother moves away from the default language used with her children. Instead of Kashmiri, she makes a request to her child in Hindi, a language that the children probably understand but do not use. Switching from a language of we-code (with the children) to a language of they-code (used between the mother and the maid), the mother gains control of and authority in the situation. When she makes a request switching to Hindi she indicates that she is in authority and the request cannot be rejected. The switch, hence, complies also with the principle of Power. The switch to Hindi enables to the speaker to achieve a three-fold goal: to express positive politeness toward the maid (principle of Face), to express solidarity with the maid (principle of Solidarity), and to gain control of the situation in relation to the speaker’s children (principle of Power). The next example [10] illustrates “the skillful use of code-switching as a ‘dialogic’ tool in the management of multiple face needs". Example [10] 1 A (Lifting a bottle of water) “Oh, my God. Let me just do it by myself.” 2 (Spilling the water on the kitchen cabinet counter) “Ah! Sorry, sorry!” 157 Bhatt - Bolonyai, Code-switching and the optimal grammar of bilingual use, Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 533 * 60 °
