Academic Scientific JournalsIcelandic-English code-switching among young people on social media
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26881/bp.2024.4.01Keywords:
code-switching, computer-mediated communication, social media, youth language, conversational function of code-switching, media społecznościoweAbstract
This study is based on the analysis of code-switching (CS) between Icelandic and English in status updates, wall comments and Messenger conversations of Icelandic secondary school students on Facebook. Surprisingly, in light of the current concerns about the rapidly growing use of English in the Icelandic speech community, the average proportion of English in the total vocabulary is only 3%. CS is more common in closed personal chats than in the open environment of status updates and wall posts. However, the proportion of English vocabulary ranges from 0.16% in a private conversation about home-work up to 30.47% in a playful chat about popular culture. The primary functions of CS are lexical need, emphasis, interjection, playfulness and promoting relationships. The two most determinant factors regarding the application of CS are the linguistic environment and the topic in question.
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