Engelsk kommer jo alle til å snakke uansett in the end - Norwegian-English code-switching

Abstract

This thesis examines Norwegian-English code-switching in three age groups in Norway. Seven participants were divided into three age groups of 18 year-olds, 30 year-olds and 40-50 year-olds to detect what characterizes their code-switching behavior – what they have in common and what distinguishes them from each other. Motivations may relate to broad, demographic factors such as age, and situated local factors such as the desire to express group membership. The data from this study suggest that the participants code-switch for different purposes. Also, the different age groups appear to display CS in different forms, as Norwegians can perform code-switching through quotation, expressing their feelings through exclamations and filling lexical gaps. What the three groups have in common is the frequent use of quotative sånn to report speech, or for purposes of mimicry, as well as to mark distance or doubt, especially with regards to cultural loans and prefabricated language. This study found that the 30 year-olds produced the highest number of switches in total, as well as the highest number of complex switches.