From This Perspective, The Code-switching That People Carry Out Online Can Be

From this perspective, the code-switching that people carry out online can be extremely revealing of their aims. Myers-Scotton (2005) identifies a number of different examples of types of code-switching which are revealing in this way. A group may stake out their claim for a particular identity by the particular type of code-switching they employ. Rampton (1995) provides the example of young people in England from Punjabi and Creole speaking communities mixing three different languages in one utterance. Within their social network this would generally be considered by the Markedness Model as an 'unmarked' RO set because it represents the social norm within that community of speakers. On the other hand, what this form of code-switching does is separate this group of speakers from, for example, those people who just speak English. In this way, then, the code-switching speakers are negotiating a different identity for themselves and gaining a sense of solidarity in the process.
A related function of code-switching is described by Myers-Scotton (2005) as 'claiming an identity'. For example, in some societies code-switching between a local language and English is associated with higher prestige, because any knowledge of English means that their education has been 'better'. In order, then, to claim a higher status for themselves a person may code-switch to attempt to gain entry to a linguistic community with a higher prestige. Here the speaker's code-switching can be seen to be operating on the power axis. Code-switching can often, though, instead of being a method of wielding power or manipulating solidarity, simply be the 'unmarked' linguistic choice. Within many communities, the norm of switching between languages is well established. Myers-Scotton (2005) provides the example of teenagers from Nairobi who use combinations of Swahili and their own native dialects. This mixing of languages helps to create a particular identity for this sub-group.
This last example of code-switching might be considered a move on the part of the speaker to attempt to raise themselves socially. The opposite manoeuvre can also be achieved, still in an attempt to benefit the speaker. Myers-Scotton (2005) provides the example of two Kenyan men who are both trilingual talking to each other in English, the unmarked choice for what is, in this case, a business interaction. When, however, one man wishes to appeal to the other man for a loan, he does so on a personal level and moves to the other language which they share, Swahili, in order to move the encounter onto an informal level. This is a 'marked' shift in which, by code-switching within the flow of the conversation, one man can attempt to influence the other by using a common language that has lower social status but makes him seem more 'ordinary'. In this way the man shows greater solidarity.