SWITCHING FROM ENGLISH TO ARABIC

“Switching from English to Arabic in M.A & PhD defense settings: a sociolinguistic study”

CHAPTER FOUR

Theoretical Framework

4.1. Myers-Scotton's (1993) Markedness Model

Myers-Scotton devised a model to investigate the phenomena of contact between varieties of languages since 1990. The structurally-based The Matrix Language Frame (MLF) and socially-based (The Markedness Theory) were the two aspects of her model relating to the switching of the codes as intra-sentential and inter-sentential, both at interpersonal and community level. The model was revised (1997) and proposed extended sub-models (Myers-Scotton and Jake 2000, 2001). Myers-Scotton model is chosen for the investigation of code-switching in this study for various reasons. It integrates aspects of earlier theories that it aims of explaining the rules governing the change of codes. It is a multidimensional approach, which explains that the socio-pragmatic functions are intertwined in the structural explanation. Like any model or theory, it is not without critics. All theories are formulated to explain a universal phenomenon, and changing language codes are criticized because they apply to different language pairs and their counterparts are many. Many researchers have used this model (egBurt1994, 1995, 2002, Fuller, 2000; Goyvaerts and Zembele, 1992, Koven, 2001). Others have criticized or misunderstood it (for example, Bloommaert Meeuwis, 1994).

According to Scotton, a person in almost every community uses more than one language and one dialect spoken. But not everyone in the community is aware of all varieties in the linguistic range of the community and not everyone can use varieties with the same frequency (Myers-Scotton, 1998). In “Social motivations for code-switching” (1993) a book by Myers-Scotton, she proposes Markedness model which was based on (1975) Grice's Cooperative Principle. Grice principle is that a set of maxims are followed by the speakers to express their intended implications. The negotiation strategies are referred by the Negotiation principle and its maxims. This theory offers the choice of language as an interaction behavior to negotiate a set of rights and obligations. (Myers-Scotton 1983, 1993, 1998, 2002)

Markedness is the choice of a linguistic variety of possible varieties. When conveying the messages, the speaker has the opportunity of considering the marked messages. She refers to the intent as "the messages conveyed by the statements, rather than literal, denote the term (i.e. more than the meaning of words and their combinations) (Myers-Scotton 1998: 1). In her own use of language, individuals "exploit relationships established in a community from a variety of language and uses the variety, and where and how to use" (Myers-Scotton 1998: 18).

All varieties of language have social and psychological motivations when used in any speech community. In her article 'common and uncommon ground: social and structural factors in code switching "(1993b), Myers-Scotton claims that there are socio-psychological motivations behind the occurrence of code change. Code selection indices always referred an ongoing negotiation between speaker and recipient in an interaction. The code change helps bilingual people to express their common identity and a right and obligation to balance (the change of codes marked or ...