Language and Identity: Discourse in the World

Description

Language not only expresses identities but also constructs them. Starting from that point, Language and Identity examines the interrelationships between language and identities. It finds that they are so closely interwoven, that words themselves are inscribed with ideological meanings. Words and language constitute meanings within discourses and discourses vary in power. The powerful ones reproduce more powerful meanings, colonize other discourses and marginalize or silence the least powerful languages and cultures. Language and culture death occur in extreme cases of marginalization. This book also demonstrates the socio-economic opportunities offered by language choice and the cultural allegiances of language, where groups have been able to create new lives for themselves by embracing new languages in new countries. Language can be a 'double-edged sword' of opportunity and marginalization. Language and Identity argues that bilingualism and in some cases multilingualism can both promote socio-economic opportunity and combat culture death and marginalization. With sound theoretical perspectives drawing upon the work of Bakhtin, Vygotsky, Gumperz, Foucault and others, this book provides readers with a rationale to redress social injustice in the world by supporting minority linguistic and cultural identities and an acknowledgement that access to language can provide opportunity.

David Evans is a Fellow in Education in the Education Faculty at Liverpool Hope University, UK

In this three-part collection ... David Evans and other contributors explore the interrelationships between language and identity with a particular focus on how language shapes the social discourse and pedagogy of minority ethno-linguistic communities ... [A] valuable resource for students and researchers in the areas of sociolinguistics, language acquisition, and communication. * Language in Society * This book is brought together by its authors' fascinating discussions of culture ... [Part 1] provides a useful overview of core theoretical concepts explaining the relationship between language and identity. Part 2 delivers an accessible and very interesting account of the sociolinguistics of globalisation and multilingualism, whilst those hoping to learn more about the relationship between identity and second-language learning will certainly benefit from the chapters in Part 3. * Discourse & Society * This volume has synthesized and compiled a diversified body of research supported by accessible writing styles ... A valuable reference for readers in anthropological linguistics, sociolinguistics, and discourse analysis, especially those engaging with topics related to linguistic and cultural minorities. * Linguist List * [This] publication with its wide scope of topics and its vast range including highly theoretical articles as well as decidedly practice-oriented ones, represents an informative book for all those who are interested in the language learner and the language teacher, and the identities they adopt in the (different) process(es) of language acquisition ... The editor's and the authors' courage to tackle it anew is a justified - and successful - attempt to give it new impulses and new research orientations. * Journal of Linguistics and Language Teaching * While language conveys information it does much more than that; it shapes the very information it conveys. It also shapes and reflects identities. Language determines how people see themselves and how they are seen by others. Language can both create identity and well as constrain it. This important book gives voice to linguistic and cultural minorities. It contains an inspiring range of discussions of how communities can navigate their way between languages and cultures and how, by adopting a critical pedagogy, people can revitalize and develop self-esteem and pride in their identities. -- Andy Kirkpatrick, Chair Professor of Linguistics, Griffith University, Australia