Collaborative Research: Evaluating convergence via code-switching: Cross-linguistic priming, rates and the structure of subject expression

语法趋同，即语言之间结构相似性的实现，被广泛认为是双语的必然结果，而语码转换，即在单一言语事件中不同语言的交替，被认为是这种趋同的关键机制。本研究探讨了长期存在的新墨西哥双语社区中语码转换在促进语法趋同中的作用，该社区中西班牙语和英语之间存在定期的语码转换。本研究以第一人称单数主语（yo 'I'）表达模式为目标，通过比较(1)西班牙语和英语单语变体、(2)不同双语水平的双语者、(3)存在和不存在语码转换的双语者的可变第一单数主语表达结构，验证语码转换对语法趋同的假设。在观察到单语和双语结构启动效应（或重复相同语法形式）的情况下，本研究预计将证明跨语言启动效应在表面趋同中发挥作用，通过在语码转换的情况下适度增加平行结构的速率，而不涉及语言特定语法模式的改变。本研究促进了对双语者语言多样性的认识。在记录新墨西哥双语者的讲话时，它将有助于记录美洲大陆上现存最古老的西班牙方言。从这项研究中产生的材料可以被纳入美国各级遗产语言教学的教学资源开发中。最后，虽然诸如“西班牙式英语”之类的标签可能暗示语言之间的转换涉及随意的语言混合并导致语法退化，但通过展示双语话语的系统结构，本研究促进了公众对美国西班牙语现实的更多认识，并有助于对抗双语语言变体的污名化。

Grammatical convergence, the achievement of structural similarity among languages, is widely considered to be an inevitable consequence of bilingualism, and code-switching, the alternation of different languages in a single speech event, has been assumed to be a key mechanism in such convergence. This study investigates the role of code-switching in promoting grammatical convergence in the long-standing New Mexican bilingual community, where there is regular code-switching between Spanish and English. This research targets patterns of first person singular subject (yo 'I') expression, and tests the hypothesis of grammatical convergence via code-switching through comparing the structure of variable first singular subject expression in (1) monolingual varieties of Spanish and English, (2) bilinguals of varying levels of bilingualism, and (3) the presence versus the absence of code-switching. Given observed effects of monolingual and bilingual structural priming, or repetition of the same grammatical form, this research is expected to demonstrate that cross-linguistic priming plays a role in ostensible convergence by modestly increasing the rate of a parallel structure in the presence of code-switching without involving change in language-particular grammatical patterns.This research advances the understanding of the language varieties spoken by bilinguals. In recording the speech of New Mexican bilinguals, it will contribute to the documentation of the oldest surviving Spanish dialect on the continent. The materials that arise from this research can be incorporated into the development of pedagogical resources for heritage language teaching at various levels throughout the United States. Finally, while labels such as "Spanglish" may imply that switching between languages involves haphazard language mixing and leads to grammatical deterioration, by showing the systematic structure of bilingual discourse, this research promotes greater public awareness of the realities of US Spanish and helps to counter the stigmatization of bilingual language varieties.