Investigation of Influences on Code Switching Behaviors of African American Men

Date
2020
Authors
Rivera, Anne
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Aune, R. Kelly
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Communicology
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Abstract
We use language to categorize ourselves and others into groups. Individuals can modify their language use in order to impact how others categorize them thus influencing communication. Communication can become impacted as individuals code switch between one or more languages or language varieties. Code switching is influenced by numerous factors, such as the rules and norms that guide how language is used and the context in which the interaction occurs. Additionally, code switching may be used to better represent an individual’s ingroup membership, show distinctiveness from the outgroup (or ingroup), and/or to convey specific relational messages. The studying of African American men’s code switching behavior has been limited. Therefore, this study examined the influence of language and conflict on African American men’s code switching between African American English (AAE) and Standardized American English (SAE). These language varieties not only have rich sociohistorical contexts that still influence modern society, but also the perceptions and use of these language variations have been shown to impact communication. Hypotheses were tested that predicted African American men reporting greater overall preference for AAE relative to SAE (H1); greater preference for AAE than SAE in non-conflict provoking scenarios relative to conflict provoking scenarios (H2) and greater preference for AAE relative to SAE in scenarios in which AAE is the initial language used (H3). Additionally, this study addressed a research question examining the influence relational motives may have on preferences for AAE and SAE. Hypotheses did not find support, however findings from H3 and RQ were significant. Findings indicated that African American men’s code switching behavior is influenced by the linguistic code used during an interaction. When interacting with another African American man, African American men prefer to use the opposite code of the speaker. Additionally, findings suggest that the relational motive in African American men’s preferences for AAE or SAE was dominance. Results from this study highlight how code switching between AAE and SAE in the African American community relates to identity, is influenced by intended relational motives, and is impacted by the initial language used by interlocutors.
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Communication, African American English, code switching, communication, identity, intergroup communication, relational messages
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75 pages
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