新加坡华语语码夹杂中的单词 = CODE-MIXED SINGLE WORDS IN SINGAPORE MANDARIN CONVERSATION

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the patterns of code mixing in Singapore Mandarin spoken by Mandarin-English biUnguals in Singapore, in particular, to distinguish between single word code mixing and borrowing mainly based on Poplack’s (1988; 1991) and Myers-scotton’s (1993) definition. Oral data are collected through three hours of conversations among ten Chinese speaking University students, which amounts to more than 200 pages of conversational transcripts appended in the compact disc attached. A detailed statistical survey on the linguistic phenomena where Mandarin is the predominant Matrix Language (ML) with English, dialectal and Malay code-mixes, code-switches and borrowings interspersed in_x0002_between is carried out. This study shows that code mixing is not only deeply integrated into the linguistic system among Mandarin speakers in Singapore, more often than not, it also fulfills both social and stylistic functions. The findings show that almost all borrowings are found to be what Myers_x0002_scotton called “core borrow form’’ . These borrowings are items which the matrix language always has viable equivalents. They usually meet no real lexical needs and may be largely or entirely redundant. Only about four are found to be “cultural borrow form” ， which are items representing objects or concepts new to the culture of the matrix language. The implication of this study is that single word code mixes in Singapore Mandarin (which are 98.2% English) are largely integrated into the matrix language. Although they have equivalents in the matrix language, for one reason or another, the English code is chosen.This study attempts to examine the patterns of code mixing in Singapore Mandarin spoken by Mandarin-English biUnguals in Singapore, in particular, to distinguish between single word code mixing and borrowing mainly based on Poplack’s (1988; 1991) and Myers-scotton’s (1993) definition. Oral data are collected through three hours of conversations among ten Chinese speaking University students, which amounts to more than 200 pages of conversational transcripts appended in the compact disc attached. A detailed statistical survey on the linguistic phenomena where Mandarin is the predominant Matrix Language (ML) with English, dialectal and Malay code-mixes, code-switches and borrowings interspersed in_x0002_between is carried out. This study shows that code mixing is not only deeply integrated into the linguistic system among Mandarin speakers in Singapore, more often than not, it also fulfills both social and stylistic functions. The findings show that almost all borrowings are found to be what Myers_x0002_scotton called “core borrow form’’ . These borrowings are items which the matrix language always has viable equivalents. They usually meet no real lexical needs and may be largely or entirely redundant. Only about four are found to be “cultural borrow form” ， which are items representing objects or concepts new to the culture of the matrix language. The implication of this study is that single word code mixes in Singapore Mandarin (which are 98.2% English) are largely integrated into the matrix language. Although they have equivalents in the matrix language, for one reason or another, the English code is chosen.This study attempts to examine the patterns of code mixing in Singapore Mandarin spoken by Mandarin-English biUnguals in Singapore, in particular, to distinguish between single word code mixing and borrowing mainly based on Poplack’s (1988; 1991) and Myers-scotton’s (1993) definition. Oral data are collected through three hours of conversations among ten Chinese speaking University students, which amounts to more than 200 pages of conversational transcripts appended in the compact disc attached. A detailed statistical survey on the linguistic phenomena where Mandarin is the predominant Matrix Language (ML) with English, dialectal and Malay code-mixes, code-switches and borrowings interspersed in_x0002_between is carried out. This study shows that code mixing is not only deeply integrated into the linguistic system among Mandarin speakers in Singapore, more often than not, it also fulfills both social and stylistic functions. The findings show that almost all borrowings are found to be what Myers_x0002_scotton called “core borrow form’’ . These borrowings are items which the matrix language always has viable equivalents. They usually meet no real lexical needs and may be largely or entirely redundant. Only about four are found to be “cultural borrow form” ， which are items representing objects or concepts new to the culture of the matrix language. The implication of this study is that single word code mixes in Singapore Mandarin (which are 98.2% English) are largely integrated into the matrix language. Although they have equivalents in the matrix language, for one reason or another, the English code is chosen.