Code-Switching in Bashkir Takhmaks-Chastushkas (Pragmatic Aspects)

This paper presents a pragma-linguistic analysis of language switches observed in samples of Takhmaks-Chastushkas, a genre of Bashkir folk songs with a wide thematic range performed in a recitative and melodicrecitative style. The material for analysis comes from expedition records of the authors, samples of Takhmaks-Chastushkas included in a separate volume of the multi-volume systematic scientific publication “Bashkir Folk Creativity”. It is demonstrated that a large number of bilingual Takhmaks function in Bashkir song folklore, their emergence influenced by centuries-old language contacts and the prolonged cohabitation of representatives of the Bashkir and Russian peoples on the same territory. Key pragmatic functions of code-switching (humorous, rhyme-forming, and referential) are identified, which can be combined within one realization of codeswitching. Despite differences between the two language systems, the composer of Takhmaks achieves semantic, compositional, and structural integrity of the text by mixing lexemes from the Bashkir and Russian languages. It is emphasized that code-switching is done to create a humorous effect, attract the audience’s attention, maintain rhyme and rhythm of the Takhmak, and compensate for speech gaps. If foreign material is replaced with native language content and brought into line with the norms of the native language, Takhmaks lose their humorous nuance.