Functions and Mechanisms of Code-Switching in Bulgarian Canadians

Abstract

The presentation will consider discourse-related code switching of first generation Bulgarian immigrants to Canada to reveal how particular factors within the conversation where code switching takes place, exert impact on the language behaviour of immigrants. The aim is to study the degree of interference between native and adopted languages and the extent to which alternating languages allows the speaker to mark shifts in context or to change the role he/she assumes in the course of the interaction. The results show the types of context and the reasons for incorporating English or French words, phrases and even whole sentences into a conversation held in Bulgarian. The study concludes that most commonly code switching is resorted to when speakers refer to concepts, ideas, phenomena, situations, interactions they have to deal with in the second language and it is a result of the uneven distribution in the use of first and second language. Cet article traite d'une analyse de conversations d'immigrants bulgares de première génération, vivant au Canada et de leur recours à des renversements de code ou d'alternance, entre langue première et langue seconde lorsque des difficultés surgissent dans l'appréhension de concepts, d'idées nouvelles, de phénomènes ou de situations qui les déstabilisent. L'enquête montre les résultats de ces interférences et les occurrences de changement ou d'alternance de codes, particulièrement l'occurrence de phrases ou d'expressions en anglais dans des conversations en bulgare. Aim and background of the study The present study assumes a sociocultural perspective in order to look at "discourse-related switching" (AUER 1998: 8) observed in the discourse of first-generation Bulgarians in Canada. The results are expected to show the types of context where English words, phrases and whole sentences are incorporated into a conversation otherwise held in Bulgarian. An attempt is also made to elucidate the functions of code-switching, i.e. why bilingual speakers code-switch and what factors influence code choice. The investigation also includes analyses of the grammatical units occurring most frequently in the corpus. The article is part of a larger project conducted by a team of researchers, members of the Central European Association for Canadian Studies (CEACS) and funded by the Canadian government. Concerning studies of code-switching in the Slavic languages, according to a recent publication (LAUERSDORF 2009) presenting a comprehensive overview of Slavic studies in North America, in over 30 pages