A model of bilingual conversation

A model of bilingual conversation
Two basic category pairs provide the ‘underlying’ procedural apparatus for arriving at local interpretations of language alternation embedded in their individual contexts.These are the category pairs transfer vs.code – switching and participant-related vs.discourse-related language alternation.From a hearer’s point of view,the speaker has to indicate solutions to the following problems corresponding to the two category pairs:
1 Is the language alternation in question connected to a particular conversational structure
( for instance,a word ,a sentence,or a larger unit) ( transfer ),or to a particular point in conversation (code- switching)?
2 Is the language alternation in question providing cues for the organization of the ongoing interaction (i.e.is discourse – related),or about attributes of the ongoing interaction (i.e.is discourse – related),or about attributes of the speaker (i.e.is it participant – related )
In answering these questions,and in providing indications that make them answerable,bilingual participants operate a basic category grid which provides a fundamental four – way differentiation of the signaling device under investigation.It is important to keep in mind that ‘discourse – related code – switching’,‘participant – related code – switching’ ,‘ discourse- related transfer ‘ and ‘ participant – related transfer’ are not generic categories grouping language alternation types; that is ,they are not superordinates to subordinated alternation types such as addressee selection,citations,and son on.Instead,the latter should be seen as situated interpretations arrived at in context,whereas the former are generally available procedures designed to carry out these local interpretations.It is these more general procedures and not the types of language alternation which are used as interpretive resources by participants in the first place.
Let us begin by taking a look at the dichotomy discourse – related vs.participant related code – switching.In the organization of bilingual conversation,participants face two types of tasks.First ,there are problems specifically addressed to language choice.A given conversational episode may be called bilingual as soon as participants orient to the question of which language to speak.Second,participants have to solve a number of problems independently of whether they use one or more languages; these are problems related to the organization of conversation in general,e.g.to turn- taking,topical cohesion,‘key’ (in Hymes’ sense; see Hymes,1974 ),the constitution of specific linguistic activities.The alternating use of two language may be a means of coping with these problems.For illustration ,let us turn to some data extracts:3