On Pragmatic Function Of Chinese-english Code-switching In Cross-cultural Communication

A prominent phenomenon brought by frequent language contact is code-switching, which means that the communicator uses two or more languages inconversations or discourses at the same time. Currently Chinese-English code-switching has gradually become a common language phenomenon in people’s dailyconversations, Internet communications, mass media, and classroom teaching.Since1970s, many linguists have studied code-switching from variousperspectives which involve the grammatical, sociolinguistic, psychological andconversational analysis approaches. The pragmatic approach introduced byVerschueren is a relatively new research method. He gives a new interpretation topragmatics by integrating language, social, cognitive and cultural factors and putsforward the linguistic adaptation theory. Based on Verschueren’s research, YuGuodong founds the adaptation model of language choice in which he points out thecommunicators’ adaptation to linguistic reality, social conventions and psychologicalmotivations in the course of Chinese-English code-switching. This thesis intends touse the linguistic adaptation theory and adaptation model, put forward by JefVerschueren and Yu Guodong respectively, to make a further specific research aboutChinese-English code-switching from the pragmatic perspective so as to obtain acomprehensive and profound understanding of the type, motivation and function ofcode-switching, meanwhile, to provide more useful information to the study of code-switching.Methodologically speaking, this thesis involves descriptive research and caseanalysis. A large number of typical examples and cases have been collected,classified and summarized in the process of research, which makes the theory more specific and testifies the functional theory of code-switching.All in all, as an effective communication strategy, Chinese-English code-switching is being used by more and more people in nowadays. Its influence oncommunication and language development is worth further attention and study.