外企员工言语交际中语码转换现象研究

论文总字数：91562字

摘 要

自上世纪七十年代以来, 语码转换作为一种常见的语言现象，开始被国外的社会语言学家关注并研究，近年来随着中国各个领域的开放与文化的多样化发展，不同的语言与方言也得到了广泛的传播，随之而来的影响就是语码转换现象的越趋普遍。由于英文的工作环境，加上自身受过的高等教育，在外企工作的中国员工们大多能够掌握两种或两种以上的语言，且更能接受新鲜事物，具有全球化的视野，因此他们在工作中的语言使用方式受到了一定的影响：中英混杂的语码转换常常出现在他们的语言交际中。本研究主要探讨外企中国员工言语交际中的语码转换的语法特点，并探讨他们运用语码转化的动因与产生的影响。

本语料全部来源于国内知名外企玛氏集团的日常交流与玛氏内部所用的英文业务缩写词典。通过收集整理筛选，共有近150个有效英文语码被用来分析。此外，作者在公司八周的实习中运用自然观察法，观察和记录了员工有关语码转换的事件。

研究发现，语码转换在词汇词语与缩写使用方面呈现出如下规律：与业务相关的缩写词，七大类普通名词，实义动词，三类形容词，以及表示姓名、部门、系统、项目的专有名词等的英文语码常常出现在中文结构的句子中，只有极少数副词和介词会出现。此外，作者根据发现的语法特点分析了其产生语码转换的可能原因，包括以下几点：工作域中的身份变化、交流场景以及交流主题的不同；社会因素中的教育背景、收入、年龄、社会阶层等；说话人为与倾听者保持相同观点。最终根据自然观察法所做的周记探讨了语码转换的影响：正面影响是有助于在理解与行动上保持一致，减少含糊不清的指令以及提高交流效率；其缺陷是一些意义不大的缩写的滥用，以及增加业务部门的门槛与沟通上的障碍。

关键词：语码转换；交际；中国员工；外资企业

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements i

Abstract ii

摘要 iv

List of Tables vii

Chapter One Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Objectives of the Study 2

1.3 Significance of the Study 2

1.4 Layout of the Thesis 3

Chapter Two Literature Review 4

2.1 Code-switching 4

2.1.1 Definition of Code and Code-switching 4

2.1.2 Types of Code-switching 5

2.2 Previous Studies on Code-switching 5

2.2.1 Grammatical Aspect of Code-switching 6

2.2.2 The Sociolinguistic Aspect of Code-switching 6

2.2.3 Psycholinguistic Aspect of Code-switching 8

2.3 Summary 8

Chapter Three Research Methodology 10

3.1 Research Questions 10

3.2 Theoretical Framework 10

3.2.1 Matrix Language-frame Model 10

3.2.2 Domain Theory 10

3.2.3 Situational Code-switching and Metaphorical Code-switching 11

3.2.4 The Markedness Model and Communication Accommodation Theory 11

3.3 Participants 12

3.4 Research Materials 12

3.5 Instruments 13

3.6 Data Collection 13

3.6.1 Types of Data 13

3.6.2 Procedures of Data Collection 14

3.7 Data Analysis 15

Chapter Four Research Results and Discussions 16

4.1 The Grammatical Features of Code-switching in Foreign-funded Enterprises 16

4.1.1 Abbreviations 16

4.1.2 Four Types of Proper Nouns 17

4.1.3 Common Nouns (Phrases), Notional Verbs (Phrases) and Adjectives 17

4.1.3.1 Seven Types of Common Nouns 18

4.1.3.2 Notional Verbs 19

4.1.3.3 Three Types of Adjectives 19

4.1.3.4 Other Parts of Speech in Rare Cases 20

4.2 The Possible Reasons of Code-switching 20

4.2.1 From Identities, Scenarios and Topics to Social Classes, Ages and Values 20

4.2.2 Solidary and Unity 21

4.3 The Impact of Code-switching 22

4.3.1 Benefits of Code-switching 23

4.3.2 Defects of Code-switching 24

Chapter Five Conclusion 26

5.1 Research Findings 26

5.2 Limitations and Suggestions for Further Study 27

References 28

APPENDIX A: Research Materials 30

APPENDIX B: Weekly Journals 68

List of Tables

Table 1 Descriptive Statistics for Entries Classification from Mars Abbreviation Dictionaries 13

Table 2 Descriptive Statistics for Research Materials Appearing in Mars Abbreviation Dictionaries 16

Table 3 Descriptive Statistics for Classification of English Codes 17

Table 4 Descriptive Statistics for Classification of Common Nouns 18

Table 5 Descriptive Statistics for Classification of Adjectives 19

Chapter One Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Code-switching is a common phenomenon when people use languages. “Code” is a neutral word. It means any kind of semiotic system in language communicators use in verbal communication. Code can be a language, a dialect or a style. The choice of code is, on the one hand, the selection and determination of codes in a multilingual society, and, on the other hand, the selection of codes by individuals in social communication. The selection of code is language planning, which aims at establishing a standard language or an official language. But the issue of languages is definitely not purely caused or fixed by a language. A multilingual person adjusts or changes codes according to his or her actual needs in specific scenario - the personal choice of codes - which is called code-switching. For example, Ms. Ma comes from Guangzhou, and her husband, Mr. Zhao, is from Beijing. One day, Ms. Ma’s friend Mr. Wang from Guangzhou came to visit her. When Zhao was absent, Ma and Wang spoke in Cantonese. When Zhao was present, Ma and Wang talked in Mandarin. Their code-switching is quite natural. There are many factors influencing code-switching, including social domain, role relations in society, language loyalty, language superiority or inferiority, and so on.

The definition on code-switching is not unified due to linguists’ various emphases. Generally speaking, the definition of code-switching has three aspects according to the linguist (Wang, Huang 2004: 2): First, it means bilingual or multilingual people change from one language to another in the same conversation. Second, the interlingual use of language units when one uses a language as the primary language. The language units include words, phrases, clauses, sentences, or paragraphs. Thirdly, it means change or transformation between language varieties in a language system. So code-switching refers to the use of two or more different languages, dialects or styles by bilingual speakers in a bilingual or multilingual communicative environment, on different occasions, or in a single conversation. Code-switching, as a form of language, is a common linguistic phenomenon in modern language communication. It has attracted many linguists’ attention.

Since 1978, when China implemented the policy of reform and opening-up, foreign enterprises began to conduct their business in China. Not only have these foreign-funded enterprises brought business opportunities and technologies to China, but also new concepts and thoughts in culture and other aspects. In this situation, Chinese employees working in foreign-funded enterprises with good education background, are usually able to master two or more languages, and they are more receptive to new things and have a global vision. Their language at work has also been affected to a certain extent: Chinese-English code-switching often occurs in their language communication. In addition, with the increasing number of foreign enterprises in China, and the Internet has gradually become the main carrier of information dissemination, this kind of code-switching gradually came into sight.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

Code-switching, in the form of mixed Chinese and English, is a common phenomenon in the Chinese employees’ communication in foreign-funded enterprises, which usually occurs in the daily oral communication as well as informal written communication. In recent years, the influence of this kind of code-switching has gradually expanded, and gradually appeared in domestic enterprises and even in people’s daily life. However, previous studies tend to explore this linguistic phenomenon in one specific group from one specific aspect respectively, and Chinese employees as a group in foreign-funded enterprises have never been studied. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to describe the features of code-switching in Chinese employees’ communication in foreign-funded enterprises first, and then to explore possible reasons and impact.

1.3 Significance of the Study

Many people are a bit disgusted with or puzzled by code-switching, and even believe that it is misuse of languages. It’s not fully accepted by society due to lack of awareness and understanding of code-switching. Exploring the features of code-switching benefits its popularity and acceptance. The reason involves comprehension from different identities to the Western custom and culture. Therefore, exploring this code-switching phenomenon is to explore English’s acceptance and integration of Chinese and Western cultures. Code-switching in foreign-funded enterprises can not only show the cultural integration and application in enterprises and even in society, but also show the professionalism and standardization of employees. The study towards code-switching plays an important role in the establishment, maintenance and adjustment of relationships between individuals, groups and individuals and groups.

1.4 Layout of the Thesis

This thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter one introduces research background, objectives, significance and layout. Chapter two reviews the relevant literature. It gives the definition and types of code-switching. And it also reviews previous studies on code-switching related to grammatical aspect, sociolinguistic aspect and psycholinguistic aspect. They function as the theoretical basis of this research. Also, the gap between the existing studies and this thesis is discussed here. Chapter three describes research methodology, including research questions, theoretical framework, participants, research materials, instruments, data collection and data analysis. Chapter four presents the statistical results of features of code-switching in Chinese employees’ communication in foreign-funded enterprises. And in this chapter, possible reasons and impact of this kind of code-switching are discussed, too. Chapter five concludes the whole thesis. The findings are summarized. Limitations and suggestions are presented then.

Chapter Two Literature Review

2.1 Code-switching

2.1.1 Definition of Code and Code-switching

“Code” is a neutral word, which refers to any kind of language semiotic system people use in verbal communication (Wardhaugh 1998: 86). Code is used by sociolinguists to represent any language communication system, i.e. language variety, to avoid using dialect, language, standard variety, language, register, pidgin, Creole, and other terms with emotion and social bias. Verschueren (2003) defines the code as any distinguishable variety of a language. So code can be a language, a dialect or a style. Wardhaugh (1998) believes that it is extremely rare to master only one language variety, except children at very young ages, beginners of languages or people with physical defects. It is common that most people have mastered many varieties of one language, even bilinguals and multilinguals. Therefore, the choice of an appropriate code is complicated for them. Speakers often choose a suitable code according to different communication occasions, participants, topics and purposes, or convert from one code to another, or even use two codes at once; and this is the code-switching.

There is no unified definition on code-switching due to linguists’ various emphases. According to Peter Auer (1998), Hans Vogt (1954) first used the term “code-switching”, and Roman Jacobson used it for the first time in linguistics. Fraomkin’s definition on code-switching is the insertion of a word or phrase into a sentence that is being used, or a transformation between two language varieties or codes. Scotton (1998) believes that code-switching is the use of two or more language varieties in the same conversation. McKay and Hornberger (2010) believes that when two or two more languages exist in a speech community, the phenomenon that speakers often switch from one code to another is code-switching. Code-switching is described by Poplack as sentences with different languages appearing in consecutive speech. She believes that the internal structure of the sentences which inserts in must conform to the syntax and lexical rules of the original language.

In this study, the author maintains that code-switching refers to the conversion of a speaker from a language, a dialect or other code to another language, dialect or other code in a conversation or communication.

2.1.2 Types of Code-switching

There are also different perspectives on the division of code-switching, but classifying them by grammar is well acknowledged. When it comes to the form of the code-switching, there are three types of code-switching, which is well acknowledged by scholars: inter-sentential switching, intra-sentential switching and tag switching. Inter-Sentential switching occurs outside the sentence or the clause level (i.e. at sentence or clause boundaries) (Li 2000). In Assyrian-English switching one could say, “Ani wideili. What happened?” (“Those, I did them. What happened?”) (McClure 2001: 166). Intra-sentential switching occurs within a sentence or a clause and occurs within a word itself, such as at a morpheme boundary, or a phrase (Myers-Scotton 1989: 333). In Spanish-English switching one could say, “La onda is to fight y jambar.” (“The latest fad is to fight and steal.”) (Woolford 1983: 520) Tag switching is the switching of either a tag phrase or a word, or both, from one language to another, (common in intra-sentential switches) (Li 2000). In Spanish-English switching one could say, “Él es de México y así los criaron a ellos, you know.” (“He’s from Mexico, and they raise them like that, you know.”) (Winford 2003: 126) Most code-switching studies primarily focus on intra-sentential switching, as it creates many hybrid grammar structures that require explanation. Inter-sentential switching and tag switching involve straightforward utterances in grammar according to one code.

In this study, the research will follow the tradition and focus on intra-sentential switching. And the reason is that in most research materials that have been collected, intra-sentential is identified, and there’s little portion of inter-sentential switching; in addition, hybrid grammar structures require further study.

2.2 Previous Studies on Code-switching

2.2.1 Grammatical Aspect of Code-switching

Grammar is one of the common research aspects of code-switching. Carol Myers-Scotton’s Matrix Language-Frame (MLF) model is the dominant model of insertional code-switching (Winford 2003). The MLF model posits that there is a Matrix Language (ML) and an Embedded Language (EL). In this case, elements of the Embedded Language are inserted into the morphosyntactic frame of the Matrix Language. The hypotheses are as follows (Myers-Scotton 1993b: 7): The Matrix Language Hypothesis states that those grammatical procedures in the central structure in the language production system which account for the surface structure of the Matrix Language Embedded Language constituent (linguistics) are only Matrix Language–based procedures. Further, the hypothesis is intended to imply that frame-building precedes content morpheme insertion. A Matrix Language can be the first language of the speaker or the language in which the morphemes or words are more frequently used in speech (they can be nouns, verbs, adjectives, and some prepositions), so the dominant language is the Matrix Language and the other is the Embedded Language. A Matrix Language island is a constituent composed entirely of Matrix Language morphemes (they can be phrases and clauses) (Myers-Scotton 1997). However, some scholars have raised a query about whether this theory could predict and explain all the code-switching. In a conversation, ML is a dynamic process and it changes as the change of topics or new members join. So ML may change over time.

2.2.2 The Sociolinguistic Aspect of Code-switching

The early studies of code-switching mostly adopted a sociolinguistic perspective to study the relationship between code-switching and the social factors affecting the use of code-switching. Code-switching research has sporadically emerged since the 1920s, but most researchers have blamed it as a result of language deficiencies. Since the 1960s, research in this field began to flourish and ideas were updated. The first influential advocate of the study of code-switching, American sociolinguist Fishman (1965) found that language selection in multilingual situations was not an arbitrary behavior, but is subject to three factors: the identity of individuals in communication, communication scenarios and communication topics. He believes that there are some constrains in language environment - the domain – which affects what kind of languages is used. He summarized the domain into five categories: family domain, friend domain, religion domain, education domain and work domain. Fishman’s theory negates the language deficiencies theory, provides an explanation of social and cultural structure for language selection research in a multilingual environment, reinforces people’s understanding of bilingual and code-switching phenomena. However, using the domain theory to explain the code-switching in various contexts is somewhat arbitrary, and it does not explain what the speakers want to achieve through code-switching.

If Fishman’s domain theory articulates the pattern of language selection from the perspective of social construction, then human linguist Blom and Gumperz (1972) is interested in how individuals choose different language patterns based on language and social constraints. Gumperz and Blom first distinguished two types of code-switching in the 1970’s from the research on code-switching between standard language Bokmål and dialect Ranamål in a small town called Hemnesberget in northern Norway. They found that they could predict the fixed structural patterns according to certain features of the local social stratum. Which language these residents choose to communicate with is not determined by ability to speak a language, but by various social factors, including race, gender, age, and socioeconomic status. One is situational code-switching and the other is metaphorical code-switching. Situational code-switching means the code-switching raised by different rights and obligations of the speaker (i.e. the speech scenario), and metaphorical code-switching means the code-switching adopted by the speaker in order to adjust the role relationship. The research of Blom and Gumperz (1972) is of great significance. It shows that code-switching is a complicated language strategy, but it is also a proficient language strategy that bilinguals can use it to convey social information that the language itself does not have.

Myers-Scotton (1988), an American social linguist, based on her research on code-switching between Swahili and English in Kenya, proposed the well-known Markedness Model, which divides code-switching into marked languages choice and unmarked languages choice. Making an unmarked choice means that the speaker follows the social norms and maintains the status of each other’s rights and obligations, which is equivalent to Gumperz's situational code-switching. Making a marked choice implies that the speaker violates the unmarked choice in regular communication, and attempts to negotiate a new set of rights and obligations, which is equivalent to Gumperz’s metaphorical code-switching. Since the establishment of the Markedness Model theory, it has been successfully used to explain the motivation of code-switching between languages, between languages and dialects, and even between different literary styles. The advantage is that it explains both the unmarked choice and the marked choice. Markedness Model theory uses mark to estimate speaker’s intention, a kind of cognitive ability, and explores the universal problem of communicative competence. It provides a mighty instrument for code-switching research. And it is acknowledged that Markedness Model Theory definitely promotes the development of code-switching research.

2.2.3 Psycholinguistic Aspect of Code-switching

In psycholinguistic aspect of code-switching, Communication Accommodation Theory was proposed by Howard Giles (1979). There are two core concepts in this theory: convergence and divergence. The former refers to the speaker’s adjustment of his or her speech style (language type, pronunciation, speed of speech, intonation, paralinguistic features, etc.) to suit other’s style, in order to express unity with each other. The latter means that the speaker deliberately deviates from the others to expand the distance with the others. This theory is inclined to explore the interaction and negotiation in communication. The focus of Communication Accommodation Theory is the connections among languages, contexts, and identities. Both the intergroup and interpersonal factors lead to accommodation.

2.3 Summary

As a common phenomenon in language, code-switching has always been one of the hot topics in academic research and discussion of linguists, and it has been analyzed from different perspectives. However, there are still some gaps in each perspective.

For instance, from the grammatical aspect, the study of code-switching is limited to grammar, but it ignores social, psychology, culture and other factors. Only depending on such rules to explore and understand code-switching in specific contexts is not enough. They are separated researches. Other research aspects have the same problem: they only study code-switching from one perspective. But they ignore other factors, such as the impact of code-switching.

The present study assembles all the aspects into a set. And those gaps are intended to be filled in this thesis. The author explores the grammatical features first; then analyze possible reasons from sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic aspects; finally, the impact is analyzed based on naturalistic observation.

Chapter Three Research Methodology

3.1 Research Questions

The present study explores phenomenon, reasons and impact of code-switching in the communication of Chinese employees in foreign-funded enterprises. The author of the present thesis hypothesizes that in foreign-funded enterprises there are unique grammatical features that are distinctive from other kind of code-switching. And its function and motivation have special meanings. To test this hypothesis, this study follows Carol Myers-Scotton’s Markednes model and Howard Giles’s Communication Accommodation Theory to find and testify the possible reasons from sociolinguistic and psychological perspectives. The author also focuses on the impact of the code-switching of Chinese employees’ communication in the foreign-funded enterprises by the naturalistic observation. The following research questions are addressed:

• Question 1: What are the grammatical features of code-switching in the communication of Chinese employees in foreign-funded enterprises, and what are the possible reasons?
• Question 2: What is the impact of the code-switching in communication?

3.2 Theoretical Framework

3.2.1 Matrix Language-frame Model

Matrix Language-frame Model is able to analyze the grammatical features of code-switching. This main structure of this model is Matrix Language (ML) and Embedded Language (EL), and then to find out the grammatical features of EL’s morphemes and language island (Myers-Scotton 1997). It can be parts of the speech, inflections, etc. This model fits well into this study. ML is Chinese, and EL is English. And the exploring of EL’s morphemes and language island is to answer the research question one.

3.2.2 Domain Theory

The possible reasons of code-switching can be deduced from Domain Theory. The three factors of the identity of the individual in communication, the communication scenarios and the communication topic influence the choice of language in a multilingual situation, rather than an arbitrary behavior (Fishman 1965). This is the domain which determines which languages to be used. There are five categories of the domain: family domain, friend domain, religion domain, education domain and work domain (Fishman 1965). In this study, all the three factors are included in the research materials. And all the factors point to the work domain.

3.2.3 Situational Code-switching and Metaphorical Code-switching

Situational code-switching and Metaphorical code-switching are used to show social factors determining choice of different patterns of speech. Situational code-switching means the code-switching raised by different rights and obligations of the speaker (i.e. the speech scenario); metaphorical code-switching refers to the code-switching adopted by the speaker in order to adjust the role relationship (Blom amp; Gumperz 1972). According to the former results of domain theory, code-switching of Chinese employees in foreign-funded enterprises belongs to situational code-switching. And this theory can deduce the social factors of code-switching.

3.2.4 The Markedness Model and Communication Accommodation Theory

Motivation of code-switching is deduced from The Markedness Model Theory. It is able to analyze potential motivations from dialogues. And a dialogue from the research materials is analyzed by this theory. The Markedness Model consists of marked languages choice and unmarked languages choice. The former means that the speaker violates the unmarked choice in regular communication, and attempts to negotiate a new set of rights and obligations. The later means that the speaker follows the social norms and maintains the status of each other’s rights and obligations (Myers-Scotton 1988). Code-switching are regarded as marked languages choice in this research.

The result of the Markedness Model can be testified by Communication Accommodation Theory. Convergence and divergence consist this theory. The former refers to the speaker’s adjustment of his or her speech style. The later refers to the speaker deliberately deviates from the others to expand the distance with the others (Giles 1979). This theory can be applied to explore potential motivation of code-switching in this study.

3.3 Participants

Altogether 48 employees working at Mars Wrigley Confectionary China Inc. participated in this study. Mars is the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints, fruity confections and pet care, and its products are Dove, Snickers, Mamp;M’s, Crispy, Doublemint, Extra, Skittles, 5, Sugus, Whiskas, Pedigree, Royal Canin. Mars Wrigley Confectionary China Inc. is a famous foreign-funded enterprise in China. As early as the 1930s, Wrigley’s chewing gum entered the Chinese market. So Mars is a typical foreign-funded enterprise. The author of this paper has worked there for 2 months as a summer intern in 2018 in Department of People amp; Organization (Human Resource).

The employees’ identities are different. 25 of them work at People amp; Organization Department; the others at other departments of Mars (Marketing, Finance, Sales, Digital Commerce, Sales amp; Operation, Commercial). 20 of them have worked for at least 2 years at Mars, and the others for less than 2 years. Everyone at least has a bachelor degree. They all graduated from the first-tier universities in China. And their majors are different.

3.4 Research Materials

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