Motivations of Code-Switching in Multi-Lingual Singapore
新加坡多种语言语码转换的动因
Cher-Leng Lee 李子玲

Abstract 摘要
This paper shows that there are some consistent patterns of code-switching among undergraduates who speak fluent Mandarin in multilingual Singapore. The languages involved are mainly Mandarin, English with some southern Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese and some Malay. The smaller units of single lexemes are made up of a significant amount of borrowings. They are mainly the discourse markers and lexicon of working domains. These borrowings do not show very obvious motivations for code-switching. According to Myers-Scotton (1993), the ‘core’ borrowings have presumably entered into the mental production of the matrix language. Since they are very much a part of the matrix language, they need no motivations to be there. The second category of borrowings consists of Singaporean words of Hokkien, Malay and colloquial English expressions, which are motivated by the desire to express in a local way. According to Myers-Scotton (1993), the ‘cultural’ borrowings are present in the matrix language mainly to fill gaps and this is likened to the local expressions. A third category consists of larger units of code-switching with clearer motivations such as for rhetorical effects, to clarify, to address certain participants, and to change the topic.

本文以新加坡大学生讲华语时语码转换的语料为研究的对象,研究新加坡人说话时语码转换的原因。我们发现这些大学生在转换语码时，有一些较有规律的现象。他们主要是在讲华语时夹杂英语，有时也夹杂南方的方言如福建话、潮州话、广东话、客家话、海南话，甚至有本地的马来话。我们从语料中发现这些语码转换的现象有三种不同的类型。第一类是单位较小的单词，这些单词主要是借词，如话语标记的词语和工作语言的词汇。这些借词的使用主要是为了方便和习惯，根据Myers-Scotton (1993), ‘核心’的借词(core borrowings)已经存在于主要语言 (matrix language)中，因此使用这些借词就成了一种自然的现象，不需要有某种推导的原因。第二种的借词包括了新加坡特有的福建词汇、马来词汇，以及通俗的新加坡英语，这些词汇的使用主要是为了要表达本地的共同色彩，当于 Myers-Scotton (1993) 所说的‘文化’借词(cultural borrowings)。第三类是单位大于词语的语句，这些夹杂的语句一般是为了修辞的效果，誊清意思，针对某一个听话人，或转换话题。

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