On Negative Language Transfer in the Speech of Kazakh-Russian Bilinguals: Post-Soviet and Current Identities

Abstract

The focus of the current study is on investigating code switching and interference in the oral communication of Kazakh-Russian bilinguals. Particular emphasis is given to exploring the relationships between various types of code switching as interference and their impact on speech. The study collects data from interviews with popular young men and employs componential analysis as the primary research methodology. The paper examines how interference affects both pragmatic and structural changes in speech, and it is argued that social factors are linked to the negative effects of interference and the specifics of code switching in Kazakh-Russian bilinguals' communication. The study reveals that the native Kazakh language underwent morphological and structural alterations as a result of the deliberate selection of code-switching types, and the influence of Russian as a guest language has played a significant role in these changes. Overall, this study sheds light on the complexities of language interactions and the potential impact of bilingualism on linguistic diversity.