Investigating metrolingual multitasking: An analysis of interactions in Fish Market Spaces

Abstract

In the era of globalization, multicultural cities have become increasingly complex linguistic landscapes, where individuals constantly navigate and blend multiple languages in their daily interactions. The thesis investigates the phenomenon of metrolingual multitasking within the vibrant and diverse context of fish market spaces in Cape Town, South Africa. Drawing on the concept of metrolingualism described as the fluid and hybrid language practices in urban settings – this study examines how workers in these markets utilize a variety of linguistic resources to manage communication in a ‘metrolingual’ (moving away from multilingual) environment. The research is based on an in-depth ethnographic study conducted at two distinct fish market spaces in Cape Town: one situated along a busy urban road with vendors selling fish from “bakkies” (small truck vendors), and the other at a marketplace near the beach, where temporary stalls are set up daily. Through a combination of audio recordings, observations, interviews, and fieldnotes, my research captures the dynamic and intricate ways in individuals seamlessly switching between languages and dialects to adapt to their social and communicative contexts or situation. This research was aimed at exploring the relationships between the diverse linguistic resources employed by workers, their communicative repertoires, and the specific work activities in which they are engaged. Additionally, the study addresses a significant gap in sociolinguistic research by focusing on metrolingual multitasking in the South African context, a region where such practices have been underexplored.