Introduction To Sociolinguistics

BS English (5th semester): Semester Project

Submitted to : Dr. Sadia Irshad

Submitted by: Hamna Aamir (200268)
Mishal Rasool Khan (200230)

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
 A Study of Functions of Marked Choices in a
Conversation: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

In many societies, due to colonization and globalization, multilingualism has

increased and people tend to code switch depending upon various situations.
Code switching is the process of shifting from one code to another during a
conversation. It can be done intentionally and unintentionally by the people and
has been a topic of interest for many researchers in the field of sociolinguistics.
The goal of sociolinguists is to find how code switching and society influence
each other and what are the specific reasons for people to code switch. The aim
of this research is to find the marked choices used during code switching and
analyze the functions they perform. The data was taken from a YouTube video
and Qualitative method of data analysis was applied. Myers Scotton’s
Markedness model was used as the theoretical framework. It was an
observational study because the participants were not involved for the purpose of
research. The findings suggested that marked choices performed the functions of
non Translatability, unity, emphasis, solidarity, authority and identity. The
findings of this research can be used to further evaluate and analyze the marked
and unmarked codes.

Key Words: marked choice, unmarked choice, code switching, Pakistan, Urdu and
English.
 Introduction

Code switching is the practice of alternating between two or more languages.

Gumperz (1982) defines code-switching as “The juxtaposition within the same
speech exchange of passages of speech belonging to two different grammatical
systems or subsystems”.

The code switching in the interviews can be described as the meaningful alteration
between two languages which the speakers can assume all participants in the
interaction to be proficient in. This type of code alteration has been referred to as
“switching as a marked choice”(Myers Scotton 1988:62, 2006). The aim of this
research is to find the marked choices used in code switching and the functions they
perform in a conversation.

Previously, researches were conducted on this topic but there was a gap in them. They
did not identify the specific functions of marked codes. This research attempts at
finding the possible functions the marked choices perform in the context of Pakistan
and the languages used by Pakistanis.

The data was collected by purposive sampling technique and the research was
qualitative in nature.

Research Questions

How to identify the marked choices while code switching?

What functions do marked codes perform in a conversation?

Literature Review

Multilingualism is becoming an essential part of everyday life and while it may be a

product of colonization and migration, it is an effective tool for communication.
Code switching is a consequence of multilingualism and Myers Scotton’s
Markedness Model helps us to understand the marked and unmarked choices used in a
conversation. This research focuses on how and why marked choices are used in code
switching and what is the criteria behind selecting the marked choices while
communicating.

Code Switching

Nilep and Hall (2015) argue that code switching relies majorly upon identity. They
further discussed that the intensity in languages forms the foundation for
sociocultural analysis of code switching. Nilep defines code switching as“the use of
language alternation or of code choice in order to contextualize an utterance”. He
regards this as a matter of code choice where a speaker chooses to speak one
language rather than the other. Overall, they concluded that different identities
effect code choices differently.

Moreover, Nilep (2006) also surveys to find use of the term code switching in
sociocultural linguistics. According to him, code switching is described as a practice
of individuals in different settings and cannot be specifically used for identifying
broad functions of language. Code switching is accomplished by parties in
interaction, and the meaning of their behavior emerges from social contact. Thus,
linguistic choices primarily reflect the speaker's place in a social group.

On the other hand, The function of code switching in talking about absent third
parties was analyzed by Baumgarten and Inke Du Bois (2014). They discussed that
through code switching, the speakers take advantage of the communicative effects of
switching between languages and cultural-specific connotations of the code switched
expressions.

While Nilep and Hall(2015) debated on sociocultural aspects of codes witching,

Baumgarten and Inke Du bios (2014) focused on its communicative purposes.
The Markedness Model

Casaponsa, Carreiras and Duñabeitia (2014) studied the markedness effects in

bilingual reading. The findings suggested that bilingual participants followed a lexical
search strategy for identifying marked and unmarked words while monolinguals
followed a different pattern. Furthermore, they said that bilinguals rely on both sub-
lexical and lexical information during the identification of words. The bilinguals were
found out to be highly sensitive to language specific bi-gram combinations.

Urdu English code switching was not only an impact of colonization or a trend of
fashion but also a valuable tool for making the conversation effective (Saira, Saqib
and Mehmood 2021). They discovered the trends of Urdu English code
switching in electronic media. In code switching as a marked choice, a speaker wants
to distance himself or herself from the expected RO set (Myers-Scotton,
1993:131).They analyzed it and found that Speakers communicate one code, and then
suddenly switch to another code to emphasize their views. Additionally, the marked
choices might be used unknowingly.

The major focus of Casaponsa, Carreiras and Duñabeitia (2014) was to observe how
the sub lexical characteristics of words from two languages impact the visual word
recognition process whereas, Saira, Saqib and Mehmood (2021)analyzed the
functions of marked choices during code switching.

Research Gap

The previous researches found out the trends of code switching and identification of
marked and unmarked choices in conversation as well as their impact and functions in
different situations but a research gap is detected because they were not in the context
of Pakistan. So this research focuses significantly on the functions of marked choices
employed in code switching by the people of Pakistan and the languages used by
them. Moreover, the functions identified in this study are different from the functions
noticed in the previous researches.
 Methodology

This part of research includes the methods used for data collection and analysis. It
focuses on instruments, procedures and approach for the research.

Theoretical Framework

Myers Scotton's Markedness model is used as a theoretical framework in this

research. The model was developed in 1993. It relates to the choice of one code over
another. According to Myers Scotton, the marked choices are not in accordance with
social expectations while the unmarked choices fulfill all the social requirements.
The less frequently used language will be the marked code and the more frequently
used language will be the unmarked code (Myers Scotton, 2002: 206). The marked
code fulfills a certain function given the circumstance (Myers Scotton, 2002: 218).

Instruments used for data collection

Qualitative method of data analysis was used for the research. The data selected was
a video interview of “Fuschia Magazine” on YouTube. The duration of the video
was 40 minutes. The particpants included two people who were observed for using
marked codes in languages. The languages spoken by them were English and Urdu
because they were from Pakistan and their national language was Urdu while English
was used as a second language. It was an observational study because the participants
were not directly involved in the research process.

Method

The video was watched two times by each researcher before it was transcribed.
Firstly, it was scanned to identify the instances in which code switching was
employed and to point out the marked and unmarked choices used in the
conversation. Secondly, the role of prosodic features in recognizing them was
examined. Afterwards, it was studied for analyzing marked and unmarked choices
specifically the reasons for using marked choices.
Purposive sampling technique was used by the researchers and unnecessary data
was excluded.

Data Analysis

According to Myers Scotton, code switching happens when one language choice is
marked and the other is unmarked. The speakers may use marked choices to express
negative and positive emotions. The examples below show how marked and
unmarked choices shift between English and Urdu and what function they perform.

Marked Codes Functions

Speaker 1:mama is your

best friend?
Speaker 2: mama is my
best friend. First friend Solidarity, emphasis and clarity
and my best friend.
Speaker 1 : i am so
happy to hear that.”

privilege Emphasis and lack of vocabulary

Speaker 1 : you’re okay with it .
Unity and grip on language
Speaker 2 : okay
Assalam o Alaikum Identity and building connection
That’s a big thing....You must be really
good in maths.This is very good ,and To compliment
I’m proud to see that
Don’t judge a book by its
cover Non Translatability
 mn proud feel krti hun ke mn apki beti Emphasis, strong feelings, lack of fluency
hun

Solidarity and Clarity

Example 1

“Speaker 1: mama ko sab batati hain? mama is your best friend?

Speaker 2: mama is my best friend. First friend and my best friend.
Speaker 1 : i am so happy to hear that.”

In the following example, English becomes the marked choice because previously the
conversation is going on in Urdu. The speaker shifts to English because she wants to
clarify what she meant in the statement she made before. While the second speaker
also repeats the same sentence to show solidarity with the first speaker and to
emphasize that what the first speaker is saying is true. Additionally, it can be to show
her grip on the language.

Lack Of Vocabulary

Example 2

“Apko to yeh aik privilege lagti hogi...”

Here the speaker shifts from Urdu to English as well and it is suggested that for the
marked choices, pauses are made before the marked choice and a pause was observed
in the following example because the speaker could not remember the Urdu
alternative for “privilege” or she didn't find any Urdu alternative for it. It can also be
to clarify her statement and put emphasis on the word “privilege”.

Unity and Authority

Example 3

“Speaker 1 : you’re okay with it ya nahi apko nhi pasand.

Speaker 2 : okay”

In this example too when speaker 1 shifted from Urdu to English , speaker 2 also
continued to speak in English to show unity and grip on the language.

Identity

Example 4

“Hello guys Assalam o Alaikum I’m very excited today because hamary show me aj
bht khas mehman ai hain”

In the example given above, it is evident that the marked choice was Urdu. One of the
reasons can be because mostly the audience is Pakistani so the speaker tries to
build a connection with them by greeting them in Urdu after she greeted them in
English. After saying salaam, she again shifts back to English and again Urdu to
put emphasis to what she is talking about.

Complimenting

Example 5

“That’s a big thing....You must be really good in maths.This is very

good ,and I’m proud to see that ke ap itna acha Urdu bolti”

Previously, the conversation was going on in Urdu and the speaker shifted to English.
Here the speaker uses English to compliment the other person. According to
markedness model, speakers also code switch to improve their expression while
speaking and that might be another reason.

Non-Translatability
Example 6

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”

The speaker uses a proverb during the conversation and the marked choice again
becomes English. Proverbs sometimes are non translatable so that's why she code
switched to English.

Strong Feelings

Example 7

“Mom I love you and Dad I also love you....mn proud feel krti hun ke mn apki beti
hun. Thank you so much”

Here, speaker 2 switches from English to Urdu and then to English. It might be done
due to her lack of fluency in English language as she takes a pause before
switching or because she has to emphasize on the point she’s making and feels
more comfortable in using Urdu as it is also the native language of Pakistanis.

Conclusion

After the data was analyzed, several conclusions were made by the researchers. It was
observed that marked choices were used intentionally by the speakers and they
performed specific functions.
The marked choice was mostly English and the unmarked choice was Urdu as the
findings suggested. Considering, the interview was informal and Urdu is the native
language of Pakistanis. Moreover, day to day conversation happens in Urdu.
It was noted that the marked choices perform the function of solidarity, unity,
emphasis, authority, non Translatability, complimenting and showing a speakers
social identity.

References

Hall, K., & Nilep, C. (2015). Code‐Switching, Identity, and Globalization. The
handbook of discourse analysis, 597-619.

Baumgarten, N., & Du Bois, I. (2012). Code-switching as appraisal resource in talking

about third parties. Linguistik online, 51(1/12), 44.

Hall, K., & Nilep, C. (2015). Code‐Switching, Identity, and Globalization. The
handbook of discourse analysis, 597-619.

Myers-Scotton, C., & Bolonyai, A. (2001). Calculating speakers: Code switching in a

rational choice model. Language in society, 30(1), 1-28.

Ali, S. S. M. A. M. (2021). Marked Code-Switching and its Functions in the Pakistani

Fashion Journalism.