Date:  Wed, 22 Dec 1993 19:28:32 CST

From:  salikoko mufwene <mufw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIDWAY.UCHICAGO.EDU>

Subject: Re: modren metathesis



Don:

 I have already erased copies of my mail and do not remember several

details that I didn't consider relevant to my work. Despite all the

reactions in favor of "code-switching" as a cover term, I am not convinced

that it is really more adequate. I have personally not perceived the

negative connotations associated with "mixing," although my professional

concerns may have blinded me. Like Hugo Schuchardt and Louis Hjelmslev, I

see creole languages as mixed systems and have no particular negative

attitudes toward them. I go even further and consider systems of all

languages mixed in the sense of not being homogeneous. This are particular

cases where I think the term "switching" would not apply. Yet in a way, it

is just a matter of degree between what one observes on "code-mixing"

(technically speaking) and in other cases putatively involving no "mixing".

Code-switching is just an extension of the same trend, even though some

might consider it less messy to deal with than "code-mixing." I think so far

I read affective reactions to my observations and no semantic rebuttal, as

much respect as I have for people's feelings. And to be sure, these

reactions do count in our terminological choices, as long as we recognize

them as such.

Sali.

Salikoko S. Mufwene

Linguistics, U. of Chicago

s-mufwene[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]uchicago.edu

312-702-8531