s - Wyższa Szkoła Filologiczna we Wrocławiu

KATARZYNA MOLEK-KOZAKOWSKA
UNIVERSITY OF OPOLE
PHILOLOGICAL SCHOOL OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN WROCŁAW
Identity styling through code-mixing in journalistic
discourse
ABSTRACT. For the purposes of analyzing the journalistic discourse, style can be defined as
a cluster of linguistic devices employed in order to fulfill a particular rhetorical function. In
this study, one such linguistic device – code-mixing – is examined to illustrate its potential
for identity styling. Code-mixing is the concurrent use of more than one language (variety) in
one text. According to Nikolas Coupland (2007), identity styling can be realized through
such linguistic strategies as targeting, framing, voicing, keying and loading. These are used
here as analytic categories that help to make the connection between the textuality of
journalistic discourse and the projection of identities. The analysis is based on the Polish
political journalist Marek Ostrowski’s (2006) book Co nas obchodzi świat. Ściągawka na
czas chaosu [Who cares for the world: A scrib for the times of chaos], where English loan
words and phrases are applied frequently and diversely. This typological analysis focuses on
how Ostrowski’s manner of code-mixing projects specific identities of the author (e.g., as an
expert, as an insider, or as an entertainer), as well as on the wider implications of English-
Polish code-mixing in journalistic discourse.
KEYWORDS. Style, identity, code-mixing, journalistic discourse.
1. Introduction
Modern stylistics and discourse analysis tend to approach the notion of style
in dynamic rather than essentialist terms, namely as an activity or practice of
styling. It is through recurrent patterns of discursive practice – acts of styling –
that people enact their personal identities against the backdrop of social and
cultural contexts. As regards the analysis of public discourses, such as journalism
for example, styles are often conceived of as clusters of linguistic devices
deployed in order to fulfill particular rhetorical functions. One such linguistic
device – code-mixing – is examined here to illustrate its potential for identity
styling. Code-mixing is the concurrent use of more than one language (variety)
in one text. The analysis is based on the Polish political journalist Marek Ostrowski’s
(2006) book Co nas obchodzi świat. Ściągawka na czas chaosu [Who
cares for the world: A scrib for the times of chaos], in which the sheer number
and diversity of loan words and phrases from English (and to a lesser extent
from French) merit special critical attention. The analysis focuses on how Ostrowski’s
manner of code-mixing is likely to project specific identities (of the
author as well as the reader). The analytic categories used in this study to assess
LANGUAGES IN CONTACT 2011