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CHAPTER 7 FINDINGS
FAITH >> SOLIDARITY [Example 55]
FAITH = PERSPECTIVE >> SOLIDARITY [Example 56]
From the algorithmic representation above, it can be concluded that FAITH
and PERSPECTIVE are ranked above SOLIDARITY, while SOLIDARITY ranks
above FACE and POWER. As no evidence has been found for a conflict in the
interaction of FAITH, and PERSPECTIVE, or in that of FACE and POWER,
they are ranked equally.
Therefore, my findings reinforce Bolonyai and Bhatt’s ranking of constrains
in the Hungarian-English community grammar*”, which is as follows:
{FAITH, PERSPECTIVE} >> {SOLIDARITY} >> {FACE, POWER}
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The examined group in the sample represents only a narrow segment of the
Hungarian-American community living in North Carolina. The subjects of
the sociolinguistic interviews were mostly the most proactive members of the
Hungarian club in North Carolina. Other Hungarians, for example, those who
work with no legal documents in the USA, understandably, did not want to expose
themselves by giving interviews. However, for a more profound understanding
of this community, a more varied sample of subjects would be required.
The method of data collection also limited the scope of this study. As the
linguistic corpus was provided by sociolinguistic interviews, the number of
sociopragmatic functions that code-switching fulfills — reflecting interpersonal
dynamics between people taking different social positions — has been scarce.
As the interviews were dinner conversations, semi-structured interviews,
the most prevalent sociopragmatic functions — with a few exceptions — that
the instances of code-switching fulfilled have been discourse-related ones.
It would be interesting to examine how code-switching serves the function
of assigning different social positions in interpersonal dynamics in a more
‘natural’, ‘spontaneous’, or ‘less guided’ setting. More analyses of that kind
could provide invaluable data to understand the true nature of code-switching.
As the Optimality Theory for the analysis of bilingual grammar discusses
the meaning-making functions of code-switching, instances of code-switching
prompted by lack of relevant competence have been excluded from the scope
of this study. A more comprehensive framework including competence¬
related instances of code-switches as well could significantly expand on our
understanding of the mechanism of code-switching.
30° Bhatt — Bolonyai, Ibid., 522-546
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