"Vet du, det tar jeg helt på feelingen" - A Sociolinguistic Study of Norwegian-English Code-Switching on a Norwegian Blog

Abstract

This thesis investigates Norwegian-English written online code-switching on the blog written by Norwegian blogger Caroline Berg Eriksen. It is divided into two focus areas, where one is to explore what kind of code-switching can be found on this blog, and the other investigates possible motivations behind this code-switching. The results show that Eriksen uses single words, compound words, adapted borrowings, mixed language utterances, sentence fragments and complete sentences in English. Eriksen uses code-switching in her headlines, sub-headlines, in written text, in pictures, and in picture captions. Some of Eriksen’s switches turned out to be quotes, names, idioms and expressions, while some proved to be her own. There is also a correlation between topics and the number of switches. Many of Eriksen’s switches proved to be motivated. Some were quotes or original names of books or movies. Many of Eriksen’s switches seem to occur due to the lack of an appropriate Norwegian alternative, which proved to be a popular opinion among questionnaire respondents as well. Some did not seem to have a clear motivation, and it was concluded that these switches are cases of code-switching simply because the other language is available. This might also be due to a wish to project her identity as a young cosmopolitan woman who lives a life in which English plays a significant role.