A Study Of Chinese-English Code-switching From The Perspective Of Adaptation Theory

Code-switching, as the consequence of language contact, has gained wideattention of scholars from different fields. Pragmatics, as the subsequent approach ofstudying code-switching, arouses scholars’ much wider studying interests. In recentyears, studies on code-switching from the perspective of pragmatics are veryproductive. This thesis applies Adaptation Theory put forward by Verschueren andLinguistic Adaptation Model presented by Yu Guodong into analyzing thephenomenon of Chinese-English code-switching in Hunan TV’s large-scale etiquettemorality talk show program Day Day Up, trying to explore how does C-ECode-switching in the program realize the adaptation as well as digging out theeffects of using C-E Code-switching in the program. This study adopts thecombination of qualitative and quantitative method to record, classify,account andanalyze the Chinese-English code-switching appearing in the program and alsosummarize the effects of using code-switching. The research results show that:(1) There are many C-E code-switching existing in the chosen program. Themain form of this code-switching is to directly insert English words or phrases intosentences and the frequency appearing within the sentences is much higher than thatbetween sentences.(2) In the program, code-switching, as a kind of linguistic communicativestrategy, realizes the adaptation to linguistic reality, social conventions andpsychological motivations. To be specific, including filling the lexical and semanticgap, seeking succinct expressions, avoiding social taboos, employing euphemisticexpression, pursuing fashion, creating humor, emphasizing, shortening psychologicaldistance, showing surprise and showing off. In addition, this study also summarizesthat employing code-switching can gain the effects of increasing the popularity ofhosts and showing the program’s fashionable orientation.The thesis enriches the studies on code-switching appearing in TV programs. Itaims at helping audience to understand the phenomenon of code-switching in the program better and providing a kind of efficient communicative strategy for people’sdaily communication.