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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 competencerelated instances of code-switches as well could significantly expand on our understanding of the mechanism of code-switching. 30° Bhatt — Bolonyai, Ibid., 522-546 + 180 +
