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“Ok, qui d’autre na, nobody on the line right now?”

A Diasystematic Construction Grammar approach to discourse markers in bilingual Cajun speech

Abstract

Discourse markers (DMs) in bilingual speech have received much attention in language contact studies because their semantic and syntactic detachability make them easy targets for being used bilingually. Though past studies on multilingual DM usage have provided rich insights, open questions remain with regard to non-salient examples and the emergence of mixed code DMs. This paper looks at the DM system of Cajun bilinguals in Louisiana using a Diasystematic Construction Grammar approach. The analysis demonstrates that the DM systems of Cajun bilinguals are simultaneously active. Besides using DMs outside of their native languages, evidence of the congruence of the two systems is further supported by the documentation of mixed code DMs such as na, yeah mais and mais yeah.

Abstract

Discourse markers (DMs) in bilingual speech have received much attention in language contact studies because their semantic and syntactic detachability make them easy targets for being used bilingually. Though past studies on multilingual DM usage have provided rich insights, open questions remain with regard to non-salient examples and the emergence of mixed code DMs. This paper looks at the DM system of Cajun bilinguals in Louisiana using a Diasystematic Construction Grammar approach. The analysis demonstrates that the DM systems of Cajun bilinguals are simultaneously active. Besides using DMs outside of their native languages, evidence of the congruence of the two systems is further supported by the documentation of mixed code DMs such as na, yeah mais and mais yeah.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Widening the scope 1
  5. Section 1. Constructions in multilingual practices
  6. Idioconstructions in conflict 17
  7. “Ok, qui d’autre na, nobody on the line right now?” 55
  8. Cognitive models of language contact 81
  9. Section 2. Constructional change in language contact
  10. A Diasystematic Construction Grammar analysis of language change in the Afrikaans and English finite verb complement clause construction 109
  11. The Spanish verb-particle construction [V para atrás ] 139
  12. Section 3. Language contact between typologically different languages
  13. Non-Dravidian elements and (non)diasystematic change in Malayalam 191
  14. Making one’s way in Welsh 233
  15. From letters to families 267
  16. Section 4. Multilingual constructions in language acquisition
  17. Additional language acquisition as emerging multilingualism 309
  18. Something I was dealing with 339
  19. Intensifying constructions in second language acquisition 375
  20. Author Index 429
  21. Construction Index 431
  22. Language Index 433
  23. Subject Index 435
Constructions in Contact 2
This chapter is in the book Constructions in Contact 2
https://doi.org/10.1075/cal.30.03bou

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Widening the scope 1
  5. Section 1. Constructions in multilingual practices
  6. Idioconstructions in conflict 17
  7. “Ok, qui d’autre na, nobody on the line right now?” 55
  8. Cognitive models of language contact 81
  9. Section 2. Constructional change in language contact
  10. A Diasystematic Construction Grammar analysis of language change in the Afrikaans and English finite verb complement clause construction 109
  11. The Spanish verb-particle construction [V para atrás ] 139
  12. Section 3. Language contact between typologically different languages
  13. Non-Dravidian elements and (non)diasystematic change in Malayalam 191
  14. Making one’s way in Welsh 233
  15. From letters to families 267
  16. Section 4. Multilingual constructions in language acquisition
  17. Additional language acquisition as emerging multilingualism 309
  18. Something I was dealing with 339
  19. Intensifying constructions in second language acquisition 375
  20. Author Index 429
  21. Construction Index 431
  22. Language Index 433
  23. Subject Index 435
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