Abstract This article analyzes how code-switching (CS) is used as a key strategy in English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) interaction. We use data from CASE, a corpus of ELF Skype conversations in an informal setting between students from nine European countries. CS in our data is commonly used as a communication strategy. A quantitative analysis shows that it occurs in the majority of conversations and across all nationalities. Participants mostly switch to their own L1, frequently also to their interlocutors’ L1, rarely to other languages. CS co-occurs with other discourse features, in particular other instances of CS and laughter. Based on a qualitative analysis, we distinguish three motivations and functions of CS: On an interpersonal level, CS can underline group membership or cultural identity and create rapport, often in combination with laughter. CS is used to improve communication at the discourse level by conveying concepts that are untranslatable and possibly unknown to the interlocutor, in metalinguistic commentary, or to close lexical gaps. CS can also be used for addressee specification. Through its combined qualitative and quantitative approach, the article aims at contributing to the analysis of the context as well as the motivations and functions of CS in ELF.

中文翻译：

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“你在挣扎前进，你不知道，然后你......你进行代码切换......” - ELF Skype对话中的代码切换

摘要 本文分析了语码转换 (CS) 如何在英语中作为通用语 (ELF) 交互用作关键策略。我们使用来自 CASE 的数据，这是来自九个欧洲国家的学生在非正式环境中的 ELF Skype 对话语料库。我们数据中的 CS 通常用作通信策略。定量分析表明，它发生在大多数对话中，并且跨越所有国籍。参与者大多切换到他们自己的 L1，经常也切换到他们对话者的 L1，很少切换到其他语言。CS 与其他话语特征共同出现，特别是 CS 和笑声的其他实例。基于定性分析，我们区分了 CS 的三个动机和功能： 在人际层面上，CS 可以强调群体成员身份或文化认同并建立融洽关系，经常与笑声相结合。CS 用于通过在元语言评论中传达不可翻译且对话者可能不知道的概念来改善话语级别的交流，或缩小词汇差距。CS 也可用于指定收件人。通过定性和定量相结合的方法，本文旨在对 ELF 中 CS 的上下文以及动机和功能的分析做出贡献。