Abstract:
A lot of studies have been done on code-switching. Most of the studies are concerned
with face to face interactions but less on online communications. This study therefore
gives an account of both sociolinguistics and grammatical aspects of code-switching
and code-mixing in peer communications on WhatsApp group chats using the matrix
language frame model (Myers-Scotton, 1993) and rational choice theory (Elster,
1986). The paper utilized unstructured interview, participant observation and screen
captured chats as the basic data collection instruments. Purposive sampling technique
was used to select the participants to correspond with what the research questions
demand. The study revealed that intra-sentential code-switching was dominantly
practised on the platforms. It also unveiled that majority of the embedded language
elements adhered to the Morpheme Order Principle and System Morpheme Principle
and as such, most of the embedded language morphemes followed the
morphosyntactic structure of the matrix language. It was also found that the
participants did back and forth switching and the English Language verbs
incorporated into Twi constituents, went through some phonological process.
Therefore, the study proposes that there should be a study on English embedded
language verbs switched into Twi matrix language constituents.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Applied Linguistics,
Faculty of Foreign Languages Education and Communication,
submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Applied Linguistics)
in the University of Education, Winneba
OCTOBER, 2020
