Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China
Multilingualism is becoming increasingly common worldwide, with multilingual studies becoming more popular and accelerating interpersonal language contacts; however, it remains controversial and ambiguous in China. The current study aims to explore code-switching (CS) patterns and factors among Mand...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
2024
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/1/116094.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848866926329069568 |
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| author | Zhong, Xinyi Ang, Lay Hoon Sharmini, Sharon |
| author_facet | Zhong, Xinyi Ang, Lay Hoon Sharmini, Sharon |
| author_sort | Zhong, Xinyi |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Multilingualism is becoming increasingly common worldwide, with multilingual studies becoming more popular and accelerating interpersonal language contacts; however, it remains controversial and ambiguous in China. The current study aims to explore code-switching (CS) patterns and factors among Mandarin-dominated mainland Chinese speakers and investigate multilingual development in China through CS, as it is a multilingual practice. Conversational analysis was conducted to analyse daily interactions in short videos posted online, categorise language varieties and frequencies, identify CS patterns, and examine the factors influencing CS patterns. The results revealed that foreign languages and dialects other than Mandarin were spoken by Mandarin-dominated speakers. Three of four CS patterns were also pinpointed regarding language practices in China. Insertion was the most predominant pattern, followed by backflagging and alternation. The CS patterns employed by Mandarin-dominated mainland Chinese speakers were influenced primarily by participant-related factors, followed by linguistic-related factors, sociopsychological factors, convenience, and situational factors. The prevalence of the insertional CS pattern and the influence of personal factors suggest that China’s Mandarin-speaking community is in an early phase of multilingual development. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:28:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-116094 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:28:22Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1160942025-03-19T04:17:05Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/ Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China Zhong, Xinyi Ang, Lay Hoon Sharmini, Sharon Multilingualism is becoming increasingly common worldwide, with multilingual studies becoming more popular and accelerating interpersonal language contacts; however, it remains controversial and ambiguous in China. The current study aims to explore code-switching (CS) patterns and factors among Mandarin-dominated mainland Chinese speakers and investigate multilingual development in China through CS, as it is a multilingual practice. Conversational analysis was conducted to analyse daily interactions in short videos posted online, categorise language varieties and frequencies, identify CS patterns, and examine the factors influencing CS patterns. The results revealed that foreign languages and dialects other than Mandarin were spoken by Mandarin-dominated speakers. Three of four CS patterns were also pinpointed regarding language practices in China. Insertion was the most predominant pattern, followed by backflagging and alternation. The CS patterns employed by Mandarin-dominated mainland Chinese speakers were influenced primarily by participant-related factors, followed by linguistic-related factors, sociopsychological factors, convenience, and situational factors. The prevalence of the insertional CS pattern and the influence of personal factors suggest that China’s Mandarin-speaking community is in an early phase of multilingual development. Springer Nature 2024-08-04 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_nd_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/1/116094.pdf Zhong, Xinyi and Ang, Lay Hoon and Sharmini, Sharon (2024) Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11. art. no. 999. pp. 1-10. ISSN 2662-9992 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03534-z?error=cookies_not_supported&code=8a8806bb-993c-457b-8406-3b5f12d50482 10.1057/s41599-024-03534-z |
| spellingShingle | Zhong, Xinyi Ang, Lay Hoon Sharmini, Sharon Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China |
| title | Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China |
| title_full | Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China |
| title_fullStr | Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China |
| title_short | Why do Mandarin speakers code-switch? A case study of conversational code-switching in China |
| title_sort | why do mandarin speakers code-switch? a case study of conversational code-switching in china |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/116094/1/116094.pdf |