Analytical Consolidation of Language and Identity: Take a stance on whether you agree or disagree with this statement. Write an argument that supports your position. Make reference to concepts or readings from the course as evidence.
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Prompt:
Language shapes our identity, but doesn’t define who we are.
Language shapes our identity, but doesn’t define who we are.
Language and identity reflect complex interrelationships and interactions within one’s surrounding and communications. According to Merriam-Webster, language is “any one of the systems of human language that are used and understood by a particular group of people”. Furthermore, language is considered a “tool of trade” (Mother Tongue, Tan) which can portray and evoke particular emotions, ideas, truths and images. Identity, on the other hand, is a stable and dynamic definition of “who someone is” (Merriam-Webster, 2008). An identity is not a sudden ‘thing’ that you acquire, it is a cumulative evolution of different accomplishments. This concept of having an evolving identity can be categorized into four main notions; a master, interactional, personal and relational identity. A master identity is stable and unchanging (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.), whereas an interactional identity may change in your role within a communicative context. Similarly, a personal identity is stable and unique (characteristics such as loving, caring, etc.), whereas a relational identity is highly variable depending on the situation you’re in. Contrarily to the prompt, language not only shapes our evolving identity but also defines who we are, as language defines the ways in which we envision and perceive ourselves towards the world.
Language is a result of the evolution of human interaction, allowing individuals to communicate with each other in certain ways. The manner in which they do this reflects complex relationships with their culture, language, and most importantly their identity. Language first arose among 30,000 – 10,000 years ago among homo sapiens. In today’s society, there are approximately 6,500 different languages (“Let Them Die”, Kenan Malik), in which different groups of people have the ability to use their language as a “tool of trade” (Mother Tongue, Tan). For example, the English language was affected by different elements such as the Anglo-Saxon, the Norman Conquest, Shakespeare, The King James Bible, Science, English & Empire, the Age of the Dictionary, the Internet, etc. As these elements have had the ability to influence the English language, it has automatically impacted the way we use certain words and sentence structures; impacting our manners of communication. An individual’s way of speaking reflects that person’s identity, also known as an idiolect. As these elements develop and change over time, there is no ‘single standard English’ as the combination of idiolects, dialect, accents and regional dialects all participate in defining who you are as a person.
The language an individual is speaking defines the manner in which they communicate with their surroundings, thus impacting their overall master identity. Julia Alvarez portrays this concept in the text “Names/Nombres”, as she discusses the difficulty of changing her identity through communication. She portrays a shift in her interactional identity, as she changes her name Julia to Judy in order to adapt to the ‘manner of conversation’ in New York. Similarly, languages can only provide communication to a certain extent, as some languages may project certain vocabularies in a different way. For example, “the possibilities offered in a new language—the words and turns of phrase for which their own language doesn’t have any equivalents, the strange new rhythms and patterns of sounds” (Speaking in tongues, 2016). This is why author Jhumpa Lahiri and comedian David Sedaris both moved to another country in hopes of rendering another language, in order to refresh their manner of communication and eventually “create some sort identity” (Me Talk Pretty One Day, Sedaris).
Similarly, when bilinguals are exposed to numerous languages over a period of time, a significant evolution in their identity is made as a result of a change in their communication system. In the poem “Bilingual Sestina”, Julia Alvarez identifies this change as her code-switching communication became part of her interactional and master identity throughout her journey of mastering both languages. Another example, is the Pirahã tribe, a topic that was discussed during ‘Theory of Knowledge’. The Pirahã language departs from the ‘normal’ conventions of all languages around the world. The Pirahã language is the only language that doesn’t use sub-coordinate clauses. For example, instead of saying “When I have finished eating, I would like to speak with you,” the Pirahã’s would say “I finish eating, I speak with you.” (Spiegel, 2006). As a result, the tribe’s communication and vision on the world is solely focused on the present and ignores any existence of the past and future –a very contrasting prospect compared to a Western culture. This supports that through language, an individual is exposed to certain concepts of culture and global features, and through communication, they automatically inherit these beliefs within their evolving identity. The way in which different individuals communicate with each other reflects on how they perceive themselves as a person, which helps build and carve their master identity.
Through language, we have the ability to find and lose ourselves—our identity. Whether the language used is inherent or intentional, language develops a person’s theory of mind. This concludes the notion that humans are capable of understanding that what they think isn't always the same as what others think. The ‘Power of Language’ does not solely focus on the ability to evoke a certain idea and emotion, it allows us to further define our stable and dynamic identity shaped by communication and culture. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, “Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.”; whether you’re a polyglot, monolingual, bilingual or multilingual, language shapes your identity and therefore helps to define who you are, because your identity is you.
Works Cited
HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.
Germany, SPIEGEL ONLINE Hamburg. "Brazil's Pirahã Tribe: Living without Numbers or Time - SPIEGEL ONLINE." SPIEGEL ONLINE. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.
@reidhoffman. "Shape Your Identity Or It Will Shape You - Reid Hoffman." Reid Hoffman RSS. N.p., 2015. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.
Team, The ITunes U. "The History of English in Ten Minutes." OpenLearn. The Open University, 2011. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.
"The Impact of Culture on Food-Related Behavior." - Annual Review of Nutrition, 6(1):345. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.
This was a very impressive analytical response that exceeded the expectations for this consolidation activity. Your paragraphing is very effective, including your use of evidence and transitions. Additionally, you demonstrate a great maturity in your writing style. Two things to consider-when writing an introduction try to avoid dictionary definitions and quotes. The purpose is not only to frame your argument, but also to hook the interest of your reader. Also, try to be consistent with the focus of your topic sentences. Your first body paragraph could be better linked to your thesis. Again, this was a very well written response. Keep up the strong effort.
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ReplyDeleteFleur, i like how thorough you are with your writing, how you dig deep into the details. I enjoyed how you made a lot of relations in this that i never thought would have connected, with the articles we have learned in class. With the way you have written, You have somewhat managed to convinced me that language does actually define who we are!
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