Aspects of Russian-Estonian codeswitching: Research perspectives

Abstract

The article describes codeswitching (CS) as a new phenomenon in modern Russian-Estonian contacts. The author believes that a microsociolinguistic approach developed by Auer, Tabouret-Keller, Le Page, and others allows a flexible analysis and leaves space for linguistic creativity. CS in the post-Soviet setting has not been investigated, and this particular case could contribute to a general understanding of CS patterns. During the past decade both speech communities have become less focused (more diffused). Therefore, a “monolithic view on language” (Backus) has to be replaced by the image of various multilingual and monolingual lects. The shape and properties of lects depend on whether they are used in monolingual-to-monolingual or in multilingual interaction. These lects are not necessarily fully crystallized and differences may be subtle. A new lect, the so-called “market discourse” is developing for Russian-to-Estonian interaction. It utilizes Estonian nouns, adjectives, numerals and discourse markers, whereas VP, word order and combinational properties remain Russian. It is not yet clear whether and how this lect can be placed in Auer's CS-to-language-mixing-to-fused lect continuum.

Making the Shift From a Codeswitching to a Translanguaging Lens in English Language Teacher Education

“…In some cases, one language switch may trigger extended use of another language beyond a single language island (Clyne, 1967, as cited in Gardner-Chloros, 2009. In other cases, speakers may be using "fused" lects that linguistically feature elements of both languages and that psychologically indicate the processing of two languages simultaneously in a bilingual mode (Auer, 1999;Bilaniuk, 2004Bilaniuk, , 2005Poplack, 1978;Verschik, 2004). For example, Bilaniuk (2004) presents interview data with a Ukrainian-speaking woman who says "in the city" neither as "v goredi" (Rus) nor "v misti" (Ukr), but "v horedi"-Russian words, but with the Ukrainian pronunciation of one letter (p. 417).…”

Alignment in <i>lingua receptiva</i>: from automaticity towards monitored code-switching

“…CS1 is the sequence of lingua receptiva as such since language switches occur at the turn level. In the case where "A" is the mother tongue of person 2 and "B" is the mother tongue of person 1, the communication can be described as paradoxical politeness (Verschik 2005) when the interlocutors symbolically exchange languages (i.e., each speaks the mother tongue of their interlocutor), a mode that has been detected in naturalistic data in Estonian-Russian communication (see also Verschik 2004 and. Although this pattern is not a very standard multilingual solution, in LaRa it occurs when both interlocutors decide to adapt to their partner's L1.…”

Language & authoritarianism in the 20th century: the cases of Estonia and Catalonia

“…Estonian Russian has seen the emergence of various linguistic forms, including lexical and morphosyntactic phenomena, apparently peculiar to that particular variety (Verschik 2004a(Verschik , 2004b(Verschik , 2005(Verschik , 2006(Verschik , 2007 Llobera (1996) draws a parallel between the national resistance in the Baltic countries under the Soviet Union and that which occurred in Catalonia. Citing Smith (1996aSmith ( , 1996b, the author asserts that "nationalism had never disappeared, it had just taken other cultural forms" (Llobera 1996: 192).…”