Language and Identity
- We establish our identity through our use of language – your spider diagrams showing different aspects of your identity – gender, class etc gave examples of how you use language differently in different situations
Like, so, totally, mint, minging
mauve, lovely, adorable, sweet, cute
blade, slide, rigger, back stops
snicket, cob, snap, tha’ knows,
mate, okay, bollocks, footie
Language can be a powerful means of
exercising social control – if you belong
to a particular group, this means adopting
the linguistic conventions of that group
– can you think of any groups you
are part of in which you have to
use particular kinds of language?
“Identity, whether it is or, an individual, social or institutional
level, is something which we are constantly building and negotiating
all our lives through our interaction with others “
Names and naming practices
- The giving and using of names is fundamental to people’s identity – it is what distinguishs us from other people.
- Different cultures have different naming practices e.g Russia ‘son of x’ etc
- What kind of identity does your name give you? How do you feel if someone gets it wrong? How do different people address you in different contexts?
Systems of Address
- The way people address you – the degree of formality, intimacy or status affects the communication e.g Mr, boy, Sir, mate etc
"What's your name boy?"
"Dr Poussaint. I'm a physician.
"What's your first name, boy?"
"Alvin."
(Ervin‑Tripp, I980: 22)
- Different cultures have different ways of addressing in public situations
- Language fits with other indicators of social identity and group membership such as style of clothes, type of haircut and taste in music. How would the people in the pictures address each other?
THE LANGUAGE…
Another part of hippy fashion
is the language of the subculture. English
exploded with many new words in the
'60s.
Astral Plane: A dimension of
existence beyond the physical world. A
place where disembodied spirits dwell. Many
attempt to contact the astral plane through
meditation or by using psychic energy.
Bag: What you're into. Your
profession/obsession. What you enjoy. "I
hear your bag's nude meditation on acid!"
Ball: To have sex.
Bogart: To hog a joint while
others are waiting.
Bread: Money.
Burn: To get ripped off
City: Following certain words
indicating a profoundness or a lot of
the previous word.
Flaky: Someone unreliable, untrustworthy.
Freak Flag: Long Hair
Groove: A good habit or style.
Language and group identity
- Language can give a strong sense of belonging or being excluded
- The first step of all invading forces, in wars of the past, was to eliminate the use of the native language – this stops dissent but also destroys group and national identity
e.g Scotland – 1745 Gaelic was banned.
- Not being able to speak or understand a language effectively excludes you from a group or nation or makes you a second class citizen e.g not speaking English or not having an R.P accent.
Language and Global Identity
- Why is the predominant language of the Internet English?
- What implications does this have for national identities?
- For the status of certain countries over others?
- For a sense of belonging?