Mandarin-Chinese Dialects Code-Switching in Speech Communication

Abstract

Chinese dialects are diverse and have a long history, while the promotion of Mandarin has, to some extent, impacted the usage of dialects, creating a reciprocal relationship between the two. As a result, code-switching (CS) between Mandarin and dialects frequently occurs in daily conversations. According to Giles' (1991) Accommodation Theory, CS is not random but is influenced by convergence and divergence strategies. The TV program Tian Tian Xiang Shang serves as a linguistic program, in which both the hosts, who come from different dialect regions, and guests from various areas frequently engage in CS during their interactions. This study, focusing on episodes of Tian Tian Xiang Shang from 2013 episodes, identified CS between Mandarin and Wu, Cantonese, Min, Xiang, and Northern dialects. Among these, CS between Mandarin and Northern dialects occurred most frequently. The hosts tended to adopt convergence strategies to reduce the psychological distance with the guests, whereas the guests were more inclined to use their native dialects to highlight regional characteristics. CS between Mandarin and dialects serves multiple functions, including signaling the speaker's identity, mitigating negative effects of communication content, adding humor to conversations, and reducing the psychological distance between communicators. This research not only sheds light on the sociolinguistic dynamics of CS in Chinese media discourse but also contributes to a deeper understanding of how dialectal diversity is preserved and negotiated in a modern, Mandarin-dominant communicative setting.