Bilingual compound verbs in Meiteilon-English code-switching

Abstract

Aims:

Bilingual compound verb (BCV) construction is a prominent phenomenon in code-switching (CS) research. The aim of this study is to investigate the incorporation of English verbs in BCV constructions in CS between Meiteilon (a Tibeto-Burman language) and English and to identify the factors influencing their occurrence.

Methodology:

The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Data and analysis:

Meiteilon-English CS data were collected from 13 YouTube videos of various TV shows and blogs, comprising 521 minutes and 97 seconds. These were further supplemented with non-recorded instances of spontaneous speech data. A qualitative structural analysis was conducted to examine the grammatical patterns of BCV constructions. This was complemented by a quantitative analysis, which showed the frequency and distribution of each BCV type, providing a clearer picture of their occurrence across the dataset.

Findings:

The results show that English verbs and other non-verbal elements occur alongside Meiteilon verbs functioning as light verbs, forming BCVs. These BCVs occur in syntactic slots typically occupied by Meiteilon verbs or nominalized verbs. However, the main lexical elements and the light verbs involved in these constructions differ from those of the contributing monolingual light verb constructions, and even the combinatorial patterns are structurally distinct. These differences suggest the possibility of distinct grammatical rules that are exclusive to CS or, more broadly, to bilingual grammar in general.

Originality:

This is the first study on CS involving Meiteilon and English, focusing specifically on BCV constructions.

Implications:

The study reveals how the syntactic slots of Meiteilon verbs are restructured through contact with English. This highlights how language contact can give rise to innovative grammatical patterns.

Keywords

Meiteilon-English code-switching bilingual compound verb light verbs matrix language frame model abstract level model

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