An Analysis Of The Structures And Functions Of Code-switching In Online Chat Rooms

In Chinese chat rooms, one may take it for granted that as long as the chatter has a good mastery of letter-typing skill as well as basic understanding of Chinese that he can make a good communicator all the time. However, things have been somewhat different nowadays, especially in today's increasingly modern society. Actually, apart from specialized English chat rooms, Chinese chat room language is far from purely Chinese language based and we can find foreign languages, especially English words and expressions quite active and ubiquitous. They may either form the user's chat names, for example, meteor, loveproof, or make their appearance in any possible position of the typed conversation, e.g.,有没人想和我CHAT的呢? Here, "chat" is an English word inserted into the matrix language Chinese.Based on this phenomenon, the present thesis tries to make a preliminary investigation into the structures and functions of code-switching in online chat rooms, specifically, Sohu chat room. The point is made that insight into the lesser explored area can significantly reveal a profound knowledge of the nature of code-switching and sharpen our understanding of current processes of language contact in computer-mediated communication. By putting structures and functions under one research umbrella simultaneously, this study tries to discover the unique features of code-switching in CMC context. In order to explore this research, a certain number of synchronous code-switching chatting samples have been carefully analyzed according to the framework of Matrix Language Frame Model proposed by Myers-Scotton (1993), Code-switching Typology Model put forward by Poplack (1988) and Linguistic Adaptation Model by Yu (2001). At last, a comprehensive list of specific structural features and functional features in Sohu chat room will be demonstrated.After analyzing the structures of code-switching in Sohu chat rooms, the study shows that many of the switches involve English language and inter-sentential switching is the most frequently used switching type. Moreover, given the cyber context, the switched linguistic elements include letter, morpheme, word, phrase and clause. In terms of lexical level, according to the author's observation, a large number of English nouns and adjectives are found.In terms of function, the research probes into code-switching application in Yu's Adaptation model by analyzing concrete examples of code-switching in chat rooms. It shows how chatters make adaptations to linguistic reality, social convention and psychological motivation during language use. Nine functions have been covered in this model and what's more, the author will also present two functions that can not be adequately explained under the current theory.The present study sheds some light on the structures and functions of CS in CMC context. Due to social and economic as well as educational and cultural reasons, code switching becomes a natural consequence of language contact that cannot be avoided nowadays. It has been given unique features under CMC context which greatly enriches the means of expression. As a normal linguistic and social phenomenon, it is still undergoing new changes and will present more vivid characteristics that call for further attention.