The Analysis Of Code-switching From The Perspective Of Sociolinguistics

Code-switching is a commonplace and yet complicated phenomenon. As the increasing frequency of cross cultural communication and economic exchange, code-switching becomes more frequent. So code-switching becomes a frequent linguistic phenomenon of significant academic concern in linguistics.Up to now, the research of code-switching is divided into several approaches, like the sociolinguistic perspective, the grammatical perspective, the psychological approach, the pragmatic approaches and so on. However, these approaches are mutually related and complementary to each other. The sociolinguistic study of code-switching focuses on its hidden causes and the functions and meaning realized in practical communication. The research of language lies in the settlement of realistic problems, so the research of theories should be put into practice. Therefore, the research of code-switching theories is one importance of this thesis and, the research of the practical use of code-switching, especially in foreign language teaching classroom is the other importance of this thesis. This paper analyzes the influential factors and functions of code-switching from the sociolinguistic angle, based upon Hymes' Anthropology of Communication theory and the previous study, the meanings and functions of code-switching are mentioned macroscopically, which is understood as a linguistic choice, the conversational strategy, and the marker of social identity, relationship, context and attitude of the interlocutors to successfully realize their communicative goal. Then this essay mainly aims to carry out a detailed analysis on code-switching in a concrete context- foreign language teaching classroom context which is helpful and beneficial in the process of language teaching from the sociolinguistic perspective. The functions of code-switching are mainly discussed.Through analysis, it can be found that the application of code-switching is feasible and a balanced use of native language and target language in the application is realistic. It contributes a lot in the foreign language teaching classroom, especially in grammatical explanation, lexical usage and class management. The appropriate amount and frequency and proper use of code-switching in daily life will result in successful communication and the appropriate use of code-switching in foreign language teaching classroom will improve students' foreign language learning and teachers' teaching, However, since the negative influence of too much code-switching is manifested not only as the latent possibility of native language interference, but also as the latent possibility of native culture interference, some suggestions about the appropriateness of code-switching in classroom are given. Teachers should change the frequency of code-switching according to students' need and some objective factors. However, the concrete amount of code-switching of teachers is still not settled down. But teachers should always reflect on themselves in order to improve their self-control of the class and cultivate their ability of teaching behaviors.In short, this paper analyzes the functions and implications of code-switching based on the research results of sociolinguistics, which lay theoretical foundation for the study of the practical usage of code-switching in foreign language teaching classroom. The descriptive and analytic methods are used through the whole paper. However, there are many limitations of this research, which needs to be researched further.