A Study On Code-switching In CMC From Sociolinguistic And Socio-pragmatic Perspectives

With the popularity of computer and the development of Internet, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has become a convenient way for people to communicate with each other. As a result, language use in CMC gradually draws linguists’attention and research on code-switching covers every perspective, including socio-linguistic, socio-pragmatic, psychological approach and so on. However, not a single approach can fully interpret code-switching use. This thesis is to analyze code-switching from socio-linguistic and socio-pragmatic perspectives, and fully explore factors and functions about code-switching in CMC. It is found that previous studies on code-switching focus on typical bilingual or multilingual countries, especially code-switching study in oral discourse. At present, Chinese/English code-switching has been frequently used in Chinese netizens’CMC and widely spread in Chinese websites, as most Chinese netizens are equipped with a certain level of English.Previous studies on code-switching were mostly conducted on written or oral discourse but little research touched upon the electronic discourse. This study attempts to study code-switching on the basis of CMC and inquire factors influencing netizens’ code-switching and special functions of code-switching in CMC different from those of written or oral discourse. The study is done socio-linguistically and socio-pragmatically. Both macro and micro perspectives are adopted to discuss factors impacting on code-switching, and the unique features of CMC are taken into account to consider functions. To address the present situation and dispute of code-switching use in China, the author points out that applying Chinese/English code-switching is just a representative of change and development of Chinese, one should adopt a tolerant attitude towards this phenomenon and appropriate official control is necessary.