Code-switching and multilingualism in literature. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gardner-Chloros, Penelope; Weston, Daniel
• Other Names: Gardner-Chloros Penelope guest-editor.; Weston Daniel guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Language and literature. Volume 24:Number 3(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 193
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Code-switching -- conversational code-switching -- multilingual literature -- translingualism; Language and languages -- Style -- Periodicals; Style, Literary -- Periodicals; Linguistic analysis (Linguistics) -- Periodicals; Criticism -- Periodicals; 800
• DOI: 10.1177/0963947015585065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-9470

Abstract

Code-switching in spoken modes has now been studied fairly extensively and is better understood at the conversational as well as the grammatical level. However, interest in written code-switching has developed more slowly and is still represented mainly in relation to specific periods, such as the Classical period and the medieval period, where a large number of works have now appeared. Linguists have questioned to what extent the models developed for spoken code-switching can be applied to writing, and a fortiori to literary writing. This introductory article reviews the main types of literary multilingualism and the main functions of code-switching within it. We conclude that there is at least a partial – and not inconsiderable – overlap between the functions of code-switching in spoken and written modalities.