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Language and identity in the age of globalization
[collection article]
Abstract "Language is a central element of any culture and society. For each
human, it is the main instrument for perceiving and evaluating
the world around himself or herself. Language is, therefore, a
central element of identity: identity implies the perception of one's own
strengths and weaknesses, the ev... view more
"Language is a central element of any culture and society. For each
human, it is the main instrument for perceiving and evaluating
the world around himself or herself. Language is, therefore, a
central element of identity: identity implies the perception of one's own
strengths and weaknesses, the evaluation of one's own past, the visions
of one's own future. Identity provides aims, direction and consistency to
the actions of men or women. This self-image or identity is developed
through interaction with other people; one's self-image, at least to some
degree, must be shared and validated by others. Language plays a central
role. To speak a common language per se creates a feeling of communality
(Sapir 1951: 157; Whorf 1956; Weber 1964: 305ff.; Goebl et
al. 1996). Adequate mastery of a language is a decisive determinant of a
satisfactory communication with other people, and also for social recognition,
self-confidence and the feeling of security in the world. Linguistic
problems, from stuttering to dumbness, probably entail the strongest
harm to one's self-image and self-consciousness.
In the first part of this essay, I will elaborate the relationship between
language and identity and propose a central thesis. Subsequently, I
describe five typical, different social constellations in which a change of
language can occur. Here, I will present examples from different linguistic
areas of the world. Finally, I will present some considerations about the
role of language education and politics today." (excerpt)... view less
Keywords
identity; interaction; language; culture; self-assurance; social relations; mother tongue
Classification
Science of Literature, Linguistics
Sociology of Communication, Sociology of Language, Sociolinguistics
Method
descriptive study
Collection Title
Raymond Boudon: a life in sociology
Editor
Cherkaoui, Mohamed; Hamilton, Peter
Document language
English
Publication Year
2009
Publisher
Bardwell
City
Oxford
Page/Pages
p. 183-196
ISBN
978-1-905622-18-4
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications
Data providerThis metadata entry was indexed by the Special Subject Collection Social Sciences, USB Cologne