Shifting Communicative Roles through Subcode Switching and Blending in Works of Zadie Smith

Abstract

This study is part of the discourse on code-switching in conversational discourse. The aim of this article is to describe frequent instances of subcode switching and mixing in a multicultural environment, as well as to determine their involvement in communicative role exchanges within the literary texts of a contemporary English writer. The object of description is examples of (sub)code switching and mixing in the literary texts of Zadie Smith. The research employs linguistic analysis methods alongside observation, comparison, and interpretation techniques to highlight the significance of role exchange in the context of subcode switching and mixing. The novelty of this study lies in its examination of role exchange in a multicultural setting. The author emphasizes the pace of role exchange as a crucial indicator of interaction dynamics in heterogeneous cultural environments. The relevance of this research stems from the importance of understanding complex communicative frameworks that involve participants, social parameters, intentions, and speech communication situations. Definitions of subcode mixing and subcode switching are provided, with a clear distinction between code and subcode concepts.

Keywords

• role exchange
• subcode switching
• subcode mixing
• conversational turn
• zadie smith