The Analysis Of A Social-Representation Type Code Switching

The following paper explores the forms and the functions of the early stage and contemporary code switching, the reasons for the popularity of the phenomenon in the contemporary society from the sociolinguistic and sociological point of view, as well as the evolution in perception of the phenomenon from a social-identity type to a social-representation type of code switching. Being a sociolinguistic phenomenon, the understanding of code switching was deeply influenced by social factors, which have been reflected in multidimensional meaning of its social representation and distinct social features in modern Chinese society.Firstly, the following research introduces the definition, classification, functions and field research on code switching. We also define present research object as the alternation of two or more languages or language varieties by a single communicator within a single communication unit. The alternation of languages is mainly represented by the switch between Chinese and English, French, Italian, Japanese. The following research focuses on investigating metaphorical code switching, to find out the reasons of switching to the foreign language, when native language has all the necessary tools for the communicator to express the meaning. The data analysis shows the dynamic increase of this type of switch in modern society, as well as the grammatical and lexical complication of its forms. Despite of the complexity of its forms, metaphorical code switching is widely used in many aspects of modern social life.Secondly, the evolution of the forms and functions of code switching has undergone a certain historic process. Early stage code switching is mainly used as an index of social identity of groups fallen under the western culture influence in the big cities of 30-40th. After the implementation of the policy of reform and opening, with the increase of international relations, as well as the rise of the foreign language proficiency level, the alternation between Chinese and foreign languages attracted more and more attention. Code switching has become a part of a socially shared knowledge, its meaning is an objective understanding, perceived as being a part of the general knowledge system, unanimously interpreted and used by all the members of the given society, i.e. code switching is understood as a multicultural social representation.The meaning of code switching as being a social representation is constructed of three dimensions as follow:the objective information dimension; the group or formation, carrying objective information dimension; the estimation dimension, that expresses the indifferent or positive attitude towards the use of code switching. Social features of code switching being a social representation include socially shared understanding and distinction of social groups, being produced in a society and serving to interpret social actions, relative stability and long-term dynamics.Finally, to show the fact of social sharedness of a social-representation type code switching within the modern Chinese society, the following research uses the fiction literature writer's code switching choices as a reference point. Data analysis shows that, new forms of code switching being relatively complicated from the grammatical and lexical point of view, acquire high-level popularity not only in fiction literature, but also in periodical media, entertainment, internet communication, scholars communication, etc. Writer's use of code switching echoes with other spheres of social life, so that he/she from the viewer becomes a creator, uses code switching as a distinguishing feature of his/hers language choices.