Code-switching and other non-standard features characterising informal CMC in the Maltese context

Abstract

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is characterised by multimodal features conveying ideas and emotions, as contextualisation cues for written language. This study pursues the analysis of ‘il-Malti Mgħaġġel’ (Brincat & Caruana 2011), lit. rushed Maltese, as in CMC. It discusses how non-standard features are defined in contrast with the politically elected ‘standard’ variety. Focus is also laid on code-switching (CS) with English as a non-standard strategy common in CMC, all the more so in bilingual Malta. The study is based on a CMC corpus analysed from an interactional perspective, with interpretations of motivations behind non-standard feature use. CMC permits the expansion of Maltese writing for social interaction. A non-standard written variety is proof of the versatility of Maltese.