The Effects of Language and Multilingualism on Identity
TRENT/FLEMING SCHOOL OF NURSING
Princess Osatohangbon (0845673)
Ling 3070H – Sociolinguistics
Precious Affia
October 7th, 2024
The Effects of Language and Multilingualism on Identity
This paper explores the connection between language and identity in the field of sociolinguistics, the study of how language interacts with social factors. As outlined on the textbook by Wardhaugh and Fuller (2021), identity is an evolving concept shaped by social behaviors and interactions, with language playing a key role in influencing both personal and social identities. They further note that the distinction between languages and dialects is often socially constructed and influenced by factors like region, social class, and religion.
According to the authors, people express their identities through language, which is typically learned within communities and specific features, dialects, or slang can index towards a particular social or regional group. For example, children who acquire their native language from their parents or surroundings, will reflect or index towards the cultural practices and norms within their community. Different age groups also engage with language in different ways, for example, teenagers often use slang that may be unfamiliar to older adults. Wardhaugh and Fuller emphasize that as identities evolve, they are shaped by social interactions and language use.
Understanding the relationship between language and identity is important because we live in a multilingual world. This research aims to examine how multilingualism influences individual perceptions of identity and how these perceptions change from childhood to adulthood. The central question in this study is, how does multilingualism shape individual identity perceptions, and how do these perceptions evolve over time? Investigating this topic will improve our understanding of how language shapes experience, social interactions, and self-concept.
Literature Review
Language and identity: past concerns, future directions
The article by McEntee-Atalianis (2022) examines how identity is shaped by social contexts and the influence of frameworks that emphasize its fluidity. It questions whether recent research has focused too much on speaker agency, which is the idea that individuals have the power to shape their own identities through their words and actions. While this is important, the article warns that it might overlook the social structures and power dynamics that also affect identity formation.
In relation to the relationship between language and identity the article highlights both to be fluid and shaped by social interactions. It further explores how identity is shaped by multiple social experiences noting that linguistic features carry social meanings that can impact identity perception. In conclusion, the article stresses the importance of understanding how identity operates differently depending on the context, recognizing that it may vary based on local dynamics, historical influences, and social practices.
This study explores the relationship between multilingualism and identity overtime. The article emphasizes that identity is fluid which aligns well with the concept of multilingualism, as individuals may adapt their identities based on the language they use. The information from the article can provide additional insight into this study, particularly in areas such as the role of social contexts and experiences in shaping multilingualism and identity.
Language and Identity Explored
The article by Rozanov (2016) explores the relationship between language and identity, particularly from the Ukrainian perspective. It emphasizes the construction of identity through communication highlighting the idea that language influence’s identity rather than the other way around. Additionally, the article looks at the challenges of bilingualism in Ukraine and its effects on national identity. Rozanov further challenges the idea that language is the one and only influence on identity by looking at how education, religion, socioeconomic and political factors influence identity. To conclude he argues that identity is often viewed through a limited lens, focusing mainly on social context without the consideration of factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and social class. He suggests for these areas to be incorporated in future studies to provide deeper insight on individual thought processes and experiences.
The insight from this article provides valuable background information that can be used as foundation for my research. For instance, it’s examination of bilingualism in Ukraine highlights the challenges associated with navigating multiple languages, this knowledge can be used to investigate how multilingualism may affect identity perceptions. My study aims to explore the relationship between language and Identity across different life stages which aligns with Rozanov’s suggestion to consider demographic factors when exploring the influence of language on identity perception.
Methodology
I will conduct in-depth interviews as they will allow participants to reflect on and discuss their experiences in greater detail. This qualitative approach is expected to produce richer data, as participants will have the opportunity to communicate their thoughts and feelings about the languages they speak.
To maintain a clear focus for this course project, I plan to recruit two distinct participant groups, one consisting of multilingual individuals aged 17 to 21, and another aged 35 to 50. This demographic comparison will help shed light on how language and identity relates across different life stages. The recruitment process will involve reaching out to my family and friends, to ensure each participant has the ability to speak or understand more than one language. I aim to conduct two interviews from each group, with a possibility of three if time allows, for a total of approximately six to eight interviews.
The interviews will cover various aspects, including demographics and language. Participants will provide information about their gender, age, region of origin, and the number of languages they speak or understand. They will also discuss things like their pride in their language skills, their experience with language and multilingualism. As participants respond additional questions may be included to gain deeper insights into their experiences and perspectives. Once the interviews are conducted, I will analyze the collected data to address the research questions. The findings will be presented to illustrate the impact of language on identity formation.
References
McEntee-Atalianis, L. (2022). Language and identity: past concerns, future directions. Sociolinguistica, 36(1), 137–150. https://doi.org/10.1515/soci-2022-0003
Rozanov, T. (2016). Language and Identity Explored. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 5(6), 1-. https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v5i6.948
Wardhaugh, R., & Fuller, J. M. (2021). An introduction to sociolinguistics. Wiley-Blackwell.
