Free English Language Dissertations - This May Explain Why An Individual May Exhibit Different Levels Of Language
This may explain why an individual may exhibit different levels of language skill in different situations. According to some linguists, the bilingual typically "develops patterns of dominance or strength, usually in relation to the domains in which the languages are used" (Seliger and Vago 1991, p. 4).
Style Shifting and Codeswitching
As stated above, style shifting and codeswitching are often used interchangeably by some linguists. In fact, because they are so similar, they are often defined as being nearly the same. As Aitchison has written, 'in some cultures a changed social situation is marked by a change in the actual language spoken, a phenomenon known as code-switching. Sociolinguistically, this is not very different from stylistic variation within a single language' (1999, p. 1278). In light of this, it seems that style shifting and codeswitching are, in fact, variations on a theme. 'Style shifting' may be viewed by those within the linguistic field as a term used to describe this phenomenon as it exists within monolingual discourse. In a similar vein, 'codeswitching' is used to describe this same concept, only it tends to be used more often when describing bilingual discourse.
Cobley explains this by using the terms 'elaborated code' and 'restricted code'. These concepts, initially coined by Bernstein, describe two main areas within the code concept (Cobley, 2001, p. 186). The environment in which the speakers find themselves is a major factor in determination of their orientation toward language. When the characteristics of this environment, or domain, become more or less stable, language use becomes regulated, or habitual, and is now identified by linguists as 'code' (Cobley, 2001, p. 186) Switching back and forth from one code to another is commonly seen in bilingual speakers, and is very similar to what is described as 'style shifting' among monolingual speakers.
Cobley also points out that 'where diglossia (or tri-glossia) exists, a "high" and a "low" form is often available, through switching between the two, to signal social meanings of status and formality' (2001, p. 183). This description strongly echoes the definition of style switching. The primary difference is that the condition of monolingualism is absent here. Other than that, the tendency to shift back and forth in discourse dependent upon environmental cues remains the same.
Conclusion
As discussed above, language does not exist in a vacuum, but is heavily dependent upon a number of factors. It functions within a social framework, and its function depends on characteristics of the speaker as well as the environment of the speaker at any given time. Factors such as age, gender, educational level, and ethnic background are important, but they alone cannot account for the stylistic shifts that are often observed in a speaker.
