CDA: Identity and language

[Linnea Micciulla]

Hi,

I think the matter of language and identity is a rich concept - and highly 
relevant to CDA.  

As far as second language learning goes (Cicero's quote), there is the 
Whorfian interpretation that, as language and cognition are inextricably 
linked (with language driving cognition) a new language would give the 
learner access to new concepts, and therefore lead the learner to grow as 
an individual. I agree with this idea, although I think other (non-
lingustics) knowledge/experience, such as mountain-climbing, deep sea 
diving, or changing one's socio-economic class or culture, can also expand 
one's cognitive horizons and alter one's identity.  

The quote defining identity as, "the linguistic construction of membership 
in one or more social groups or categories" is very interesting to me, 
because it suggests that individuals only have power over their identity if 
they control the linguistic constructions that define them.  As an example, 
an individual who might want to define herself as "mother" or "American" 
may instead be linguistically constructed as "welfare recipient" or "poor" 
by discourses that are beyond her control.  It's actually a compelling 
question to consider how much of a person's identity is self-determined "I 
am _____." rather than other-determined "You are _____." 

Linnea

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 01:13:27 +0900, =?ISO-2022-JP?B?
GyRCP3k/ORsoQiAbJEJFNTtSGyhC?= <n_sugimori at YAHOO.CO.JP> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>What an intriguing question! I am more interested in the
>material you read!
>
>Paul V. Kroskrity defines identity as "Identity is defined
>as the linguistic construction of membership in one or
>more social groups or categories"(Key Terms in Language
>and Culture, 2001, edited by Alessandro Duranti, p. 106).
>
>Let me share my personal experience with you. Japanese is
>my L1 and English is my L2 (I feel I am an L2 learner
>rather than a balanced bilingual.) When I talk about Japan
>in English, I feel that my identity is different from how
>I was years ago when I had not been exposed to English. I
>cannot explain more clearly, but I will continue to think
>about it.
>
>Best,
>
>Noriko Sugimori
>
>
>--- C�ero_Barbosa <cicerobarbosa at GMAIL.COM>  $B$+$i (B
> $B$N%a%C%;!<%8!' (B
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> Something I read one of these days has really called
>> my attention:
>>
>> "He who learns a new language is redefining himself
>> as a new person".
>>
>> This was concerning identity and language learning.
>> I would like to
>> get comments from you on it: in what sense does it
>> mean to "redefine
>> oneself as a new person"? What do you understand by
>> that?
>>
>> I really wish we could talk about it. Thanks,
>>
>> C�ero
>>
>>
>>
>> 2005/9/20, Linnea Micciulla <polyglot at bu.edu>:
>> > Hi everyone,
>> >
>> > I haven't had any specific reading suggestions
>> from anyone, but I was
>> > contacted offline by a list member from Egypt who
>> was interested in "the
>> > interconnections between bureaucracy and power,"
>> and specifically
>> > bureaucrat-client interactions.  Does anyone have
>> any suggestions for readings?
>> >
>> > In the meantime, below is a reminder of this
>> month's reading, and a couple
>> > of suggestions for October and November.  The
>> October suggestion is from
>> > Sociological Quarterly, and Phil Graham has a
>> pre-publication version of the
>> > Journal of Language and Politics article on his
>> website, so both of the
>> > articles for October and November should be
>> accessible to everyone on the
>> > list.  Please let me know if you are having
>> trouble finding anything!
>> >
>> > Best,
>> > Linnea
>> >
>> > *******
>> >
>> > SEPTEMBER:
>> > Koller, V. (2005). "Critical discourse analysis
>> and social cognition:
>> > evidence from business media discourse." Discourse
>> & Society 16(2):199-224.
>> >
>> > OCTOBER:
>> > THE SYMBOLIC CONSTRUCTION OF RUSSIA AND THE UNITED
>> STATES ON RUSSIAN
>> > NATIONAL TELEVISION. Philo C. Wasburn and Barbara
>> Ruth Burke. The
>> > Sociological Quarterly, Volume 38, Number 4, pages
>> 669-686. 1997.
>> >
>> > NOVEMBER:
>> > Graham, P. & Luke, A. (2005). The language of
>> neofeudal corporatism and the
>> > war on Iraq. Journal of Language & Politics, 4
>> (1).  (Pre-publication
>> > available here:
>> >
>>
>http://www.philgraham.net/Graham%20and%20Luke%20-%20Final%20L&P.pdf)
>> >
>>