The Markedness Model And The Switching Of Discourse Roles

The markedness model (MM), which is established by Myers-Scotton, is a cognitively based theory to account for implied messages in codeswitching. It claims that the choice of a marked variety means more costs. As cognitive calculations of human beings are economically biased, they tend to favor unmarked varieties in their choices. Therefore, to balance with the extra costs, a marked choice necessarily indicates that the speaker intends to get some extra rewards. These extra rewards are to convey to the receiver additional messages, which are termed intentionality and are based on social and psychological associations that people conventionally make for the chosen variety.The markedness model has provided us with a good explanation for the variety of codeswitching behaviors. However, being a sociolinguist in the first place, Myers-Scotton has chiefly based her theory on the findings in sociology and sociopsychology. Its theoretical sources in linguistics have never received adequate account, which makes the theory difficult for other linguists and pragmatists to understand and accept, and hence its application in the study on the use of language is greatly limited.The present research shows that the markedness model has extensive theoretical sources in linguistics. First, the model claims that speakers are rational in their choice of linguistic forms. This view can draw its source from the means-end model, which was first proposed by Roman Jakobson. Second, the markedness model holds that the choice of a marked variety means more costs. This idea can find its source in the markedness theory established by the Prague School, especially the theory of iconicity of markedness in contemporary cognitive linguistics. Finally, the markedness model takes the cognitive calculations of human mind as economically biased. This can find support from Zipf's law.Up to present, the markedness model has been applied in the analysis on codeswitching between different languages in speech, different styles and dialects within a single language both in speech and literary texts. The present research further extends its application to the analysis on the switching between different discourse roles, the concept of which is proposed by Jenny Thomas.The switching between different discourse roles is a type of codswitching between different speaking styles. From the perspective of the markedness model, the varieties of discourse roles can be seen as constituting a set for the producer to choose, in which the roles are distinguished from each other by their different degrees of markedness. By switching from the unmarked to the marked discourse role, or from the less marked to the more marked one, the producer intends to convey certain intentionality, which is based on social and psychological associations people conventionally make for these roles, such as the nature of, the producer's attitude towards and relation with the message transmitted through the roles. By conveying these intentionalites, certain pragmatic effects are achieved.The study based on the data from Jane Eyre shows that the role of "speaker" is generally unmarked, which leaves the other roles marked to varying degrees. Moreover, as the markedness model takes a dynamic concept of markedness, what is unmarked may become marked in certain contexts, and vice versa. Therefore, though "speaker" is generally an unmarked role, it may become marked in certain contexts. Meanwhile, it is found that the position of message-introducers can serve as a "regulator" of markedness, with the back position being marked and thus adding to the markedeness of the choice.Based on the corpus from Jane Eyre, the present research shows that in a marked choice the producer does make use of the associations that people usually make for the roles to convey certain intentionalities. Through the conveying of these intentionalities, he implicitly expresses his attitude towards someone, something, or some idea, or his understanding of the scope of responsibility for the illocutionary act in the message, and thus achieves his pragmatic purposes. In this sense, the switching of discourse roles becomes a pragmatic strategy employed by the producer for successful communication, while the markedness model is demonstrated to be capable of providing a sound interpretation for why it can serve the purpose.