Essay On Language And Identity

He argues that people use different styles or varieties of language for different purposes. They use different varieties of language to enact and recognize different identities in different settings. Gee also points out that people build identities and activities not just through language, but by using language together with other “stuff” that isn’t language. (Gee, 2011, p. 207) There is a strong connection between discourse and identity.

Too often attention is given to the differing languages and non-verbal communication is neglected. Foreign language learners need to not only pay attention to the verbal language but should give suitable attention to being aware of each target countries social system, customs, ways of thinking, values and differences. The non-verbal behaviours associated with each group of individuals vary widely and being aware of this can certainly lend to better intercultural communication. To effectively communicate with those who may share an opinion that is different from ours, we must have empathy. Empathy is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another”.

This is called “code-switching”. It is used either for expressing something that has not the same meaning as in your native language, for replacing a word or maybe just because we are very familiar with one language that we shift to by accident. Besides, “studies shows that bicultural bilinguals may exibit different verbal behaviors in their two languages and may be perceived differently by their interlocutors depending on the language they use in a particular cotext” . As the writer suggests, for these bilinguals “the two languages may be linked to different linguistic repertoires, cultural scripts, frames or expectation, autobiographic memories, and levels of proficiency and

Languages are complex because they are made up of many components. Some components include the culture, meaning, and interpretation. The way people understand language has to do mostly with their culture and their understanding of what is being said. Also, depending upon where someone is raised, the pronunciation of certain words can be different and therefore it influences the understanding. My goal in this paper is to demonstrate that language and culture are intertwined.

Language’s Disconnection Between Cultures and Individuals Language can be defined as the recipe for human communication through verbal, and nonverbal techniques. Our use of language emerges from interactions between one another, giving uniqueness to the multitude of cultures that exist. Generations are detached from each other as the result of not only cultural differences, but through dialects, idioms, and slang. Simultaneously, language can be simple and complex, giving us a vast understanding of what separates us as cultures and individuals. The language we use creates a barrier between separate cultures and exposes our personal identity as demonstrated through Mother Tongue, Slang in America and The F Word.

Communication Improvement Plans (CIPs): Goal Setting Paper State the Problem: Intercultural Communication is a form of communication that aims to share information across different cultures and social groups. The transaction process of listening and responding to people from different cultural backgrounds can have a challenging. The problems are different religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds (language barrier). State the Goal: teaching about diversity and give training the communities that live together.

However, culture can also create discrimination and otherness. Sometimes, we “other” people just because we do not understand their culture or because their beliefs are different from ours. The act of “othering” can often lead to conflicts or misunderstandings. So we have to ask ourselves, is there a way for us to preserve and respect a culture without othering

After a firsthand encounter with linguistic discrimination, I have become more aware of the differences between myself and others. Having a different language than most my peers has made me realize how different and unique I am to everyone else, and in what ways I am unique. The separation in language has made me curious about my own values and beliefs, resulting in a deeper exploration of my culture and self through various thought processes. There is a bad linguistic discrimination, however, linguistic distinction can also contribute in the formation of one’s identity to be unique, yet equal to that of

It has always defined a culture, but it can also change and create new ones. It is not bound by rules and restraints, but rather by our own inability to use its potential. It 's this versatility which gives us power over our individuality. Straining for personal identity in a judgmental world, people often use the fluidity of language not only for an outlet of emotions, but for its ever changing constructs as a blueprint of life 's experiences through speech and writings.

In the social life, language and society are two things that support each other. It is impossible if there is society without language and there is language without society, because language is a device to communicate one to another (Adam J.H, 1982; 3). There is the study to organize between language and the society that is called sociolinguistics.

A culture, by definition, is a set of shared beliefs within a society; learning how to interact with people from different cultures is important in order to communicate and work with each other. It helps us become understanding of one another and widens our perspective of what the world has to offer. To be able to cross cultural communicate with others, the first step is to be aware that every culture is complex and has its differences. While traveling to new countries and trying to understand each other, there is a large possibility of miscommunication, which can come in the form of misinterpreting messages or body language; therefore, it is crucial to keep an open mind whilst communicating. There are multitudes of factors in various cultures that play a role in decision making, so being aware of the expectations that are influenced by someone’s culture will help you understand their choices.

Our identity is a place upon many attributes of a human being. Whether the person is someone who goes on promoting themselves to the world or not, and it shows how people communicate to others around them. Language is one of the main components that unveils the person’s identity in their everyday life, and they are many different ways to approach a person’s language. Relating to the article of Yiyun Li, “To Speak is to Blunder,” she knows two languages that has its positive and negative outcomes in her life. I to relate to her understanding of language, but a different view of what language means to me.

For example my group of friends would not have the same exact way of expressing things as a group of friends somewhere else in the United States. Discourse is something so complex and versatile that it can give the same spoken word different meanings. The way we speak is all different. Some prefer to speak in what is known as proper English and other rather speak in a more colloquial fashion.

Humans express a sense of identity through verbal and nonverbal means, including language, social status and clothing. Although some identities have biological origins, it's also deeply rooted in learned behavior. People living in tribes or cults often learn the specific clothing styles and normal behaviors that are acceptable and normalize them as they get older. Identity exists in many forms, and ranges from small traits to powerful behaviors. Posture, hair style and type of clothing classify as forms of identity to help people develop an attachment to like-minded individuals.