Introduction

It is a very important part of human development to inquire about our personal

and social identity. Socialization is a key concept in understanding our identity in

the society we live in today. In another word, it is the way we learn to become

members of a society, accepting the social norms and behaviors of society.

People’s earliest interactions with others, created the pathway to discover and

establish their identity as individuals as well as members of groups.

Besides social and cultural identity, the most fundamental form of identity is the

identity of ethnicity of an individual, which entails the understanding of one’s

membership in society, which has a common culture. Woodward (1997) states

that “Identity are marked by differences but it seems some differences, here

between ethnic groups, are seen as more important than others,”. Hence, it is a

dynamic concept , and may vary depending on the environment to which the

sense of ethnicity is being applied, especially in particular places and particular

times.

When we talk about the common culture, it is manifested by shared language,

history, geography and physical characteristics (1997A). It is important to note at

this juncture that all of these elements need to be shared for people to identity

with a specific group. Woodward (1997) states that “Culture shapes identity

through giving meaning to experience,” And that’s is why I am always fascinated

by how culture shapes an individual giving one an identity in society, especially

when I observe my wife and her family members belonging to the Indian

community of a different ethnic group in a multicultural society.

In Stuart Hall’s articles (1997), he claims that there is an interrelationship

between language, identity and cultural differences. And In my review on his

paper, I will be discussing this relationship and the reasons as to why he believes

that they are important. I base my writing on reality checks of our lives in

Singapore -a multi racial society.

Till date Anthropologists and other scholars are constantly debating the definition

of culture till today. Howitt and Julian (2002) states that “Culture generally refers

to the values, arts, technology, laws and beliefs that bond a society” (p.2). And

further suggests that it as “ways of thinking, feeling and behaving are connected

to the shared knowledge of a society, allowing its members to gain meaning from

the objects and ideas around them. Living in a multiracial society, we have learnt

to blend in harmoniously in the way we portray ourselves – the way we speak,

dress, work and even think. I am married to my wife, who belongs to a specific

caste of the Indian community, which is different from mine in Singapore.

Although we are individuals living in Singapore and seen as belonging to the

minority of the Indian community, our difference in ethnicity various quite to an

extend.

For instance, my wife, an Indian and an Educator by profession , has never worn

an Indian traditional costume – the Saree, to school on a regular school day.

Although, it is quite acceptable in a multi-racial country like Singapore, it doesn’t

suit the environment and to the profession. It may be because of the fear of being

stereotyped and the need to be accepted, that she chooses to go with the crowd.

I observed that she sees herself as a Singaporean first. This is her first identity

as an individual, besides being a woman. As Stuart Hall’s states “our cultural

identities reflect the common historical experiences and shared cultural codes

which provides us as “one people”…” (1997). Being brought up in a traditional

Indian family, she has been greatly influenced by the values and history of

Indian culture in which she was born and bred at home. She was solely

influenced by her family, who taught the basics of the society and culture she

was to grow up in. Her future depended upon how they brought her up, how the

values of society that they believed to be right were taught to her. This was the

foundation of her identity on whom she really is today.

According to Hall(1997B), an individual’s own culture is most of the time

invisible to the individual himself or herself. However, it should be noted that they

are the circumstances within which people operate and make sense of the world.

As individuals come across a culture which is different from their own culture,

one of the issues that they face is a set of beliefs that marked themselves in

behaviors that differ from their own. As such, although we embrace the Indian

culture close to our heart, we are influenced by the culture where we live in.

Making adjustments here and there to blend in a multiracial country like

Singapore , yet not loosing our very own innate identity at the same time of “what

we are “, and “what we have become”. Hall has clearly stated in his literature that

“identity is a production which is never complete, always in process” (1997B), we

are all always learning and making fine adjustments which is a process itself. To

add further, “like everything which is historical, they undergo constant

transformation” (1997B).

Indians, whether in Singapore or any parts of the world, are further influenced by

the caste system. This has a greater impact on who they are, and identified to

be. This helps them to be rooted to their origin and their ancestral beginnings.

She comes from a dominant Indian ethnic group – “Telugu” and is often

conscious in terms of their caste system. Not so much the status attached to the

caste she comes from but the pride of who she is and her origin.

We can evaluate culture as constitute of values, beliefs, ideas about appropriate

behavior and socially constructed truths.

My wife takes every opportunity to dress up in the traditional costume on

occasions like wedding functions, family gatherings and of course religious

meetings. This is an innate quality that I see in almost all Indian women in

Singapore. A strong career-minded woman is now a soft feminine and very

elegant in the way she carries herself in her saree. The cultural environment

brings out another one of her multiplicity within her. The cultural influence has

brought about yet another identity of a woman within her, which is not seen in

her daily routines as an employee, wife, daughter, mother etc.

To further elaborate, I would like to discuss on the traditional outfit of Indian

women which has never failed to amaze me on how they shape up the identity

and the unspoken language.

• Saree – the shared meaning of femininity and elegance in Indian

Society

Saree is the most popular and beautiful outfit of women for Indians. While

draping this outfit, its auspicious looks and rich quality gives the woman a

royal and special feeling.

The sari is extremely graceful and looks flattering, and complements both a

small or fuller frame.

• Distinctive identity - the quality of sarees and its status

representation in society.

Individual cultural identity poses yet another layer of complexity. Even

members of the same culture vary significantly in their beliefs and actions. All

peoples have unique identities that have been developed within their

specified cultures. However, these identities are not fixed or static.

“Kanchipuram” sarees represent Indian ethnic fashion and can easily replace

designer wedding dresses. The subtle look, the feel of dignity and elegance

makes it a treasured collection among women of all ages.

There are sarees, made of cotton and synthetic costing as low as $30.

Although it gives the same elegance, it doesn’t show the status and thus

shows the identity of the individual wearing it and stereotyped as lacking in

taste and reveals their cultural influence and worse, at times their caste.

These culture of beliefs and ideas have produced to the dynamic nature of

culture. In the Indian Culture, wearing a silk kancheepuram saree depicts

status. Wearing a Kanchipuram saree on a special occasion is a symbol of

affluence and status for a woman. As for Hall(1997A), culture is all about

“shared meanings”.

Language, in relation to culture, is the “privileged medium” where people

make sense of things, in which meaning is produced and exchanged.

Meanings, in addition, can only be shared by means of the people’s common

access to language. Therefore, language is considered to be the heart of

meaning and culture, which is regarded as the prime repertory of cultural

values and meanings.

Language - representational system

Language works in a representational system. In language, people use signs

and symbols – may be sounds, written words, electronically produced

images, musical notes, even objects – to represent to other people their

concepts, ideas and feelings. The stunning texture and color of kanchipuram

sarees reflects the glamour and high status of the wearer. Advertisement in
magazines and TV further has continued to enhance the century- old

tradition of wearing sarees, and the type of quality the wearer chooses, in

today’s society speaks the status in the shared ethnic community. Language

is actually one of the media through which beliefs, concepts and feelings are

represented in a culture. Kanchipuram sarees is one of the world famous

varieties of premier Indian sarees. Kanchipuram sarees are usually at the

high end ranging from $300 to $1500 which are advertised in media and

technology. “Media can be seen as providing us with the information which it

tells us what it feels like to occupy a particular subject position” (Hall,1997).

Hence, it should be noted that the representation through language is

fundamental to the processes by which meaning is produced, and “ the

identities positioned within and by representational systems are closely

interconnected” (Hall,1997A).

Culture is also said to be one of the most complicated concepts in the field of

human and social sciences. However, culture has been traditionally defined

as to “embody the best that has been taught and said” in a society”, which are

represented in the works of literature, art and paintings, music –the “high

culture” of an age. The term “cultural turn”, especially in cultural studies has a

tendency of highlight on the significance of meaning when defining “culture”.

Culture is often argued that it is not a set of things like news, magazines,

fiction, paintings but seen as a process which involves a set practices.

In a nutshell, culture is associated with the production and exchange of

meanings, that is the giving and taking of meanings, between the members of

the group or society who share the same meanings. When we say that the

two individuals belonging to the same culture, it means that both these

individuals understand their surroundings in the similar ways and feelings and

can easily express themselves, their thoughts and feelings that will be

understood by both.

According to Hall (1997A), it should be noted that culture depends on its

members who translates the meanings of happenings around them in a

reflective manner and making sense of the world in ways that are similar.

This concentration on “shared meanings” sometimes makes culture too

unitary and cognitive. In Indian culture, as well as in any, there will always be

a fair amount of varieties in meanings of any topic, as well as many ways of

representing it. As mentioned earlier, wearing a traditional kancheepuram

saree is often means status to those who share the meanings of it

representation in the same way. Those who come from a lower caste or of

lower social status do not see it the same way as one who is from a higher

social status on the quality of saree one chooses to wear. Culture deals with

feelings, attachment and emotions. My wife always wants to uphold the

tradition and cultural beliefs that her parents have left behind. So her choice is

intertwined with her feelings and attachment towards what has been taught to
her, things she was exposed in her growing years, along with concepts and

ideas she strongly beliefs to be hers and this definitely defines her identity.

How my wife carries herself in her traditional costume in a particular place at

a particular time, is a representation of who she is – her identity: what she

is feeling- her emotions: as well as which group she feels she belongs to –

her attachment, which can be interpreted by others in her community.

Cultural meanings are not only in the way they think, but they are processed

from the stage of organizing and standardizing social practices, thus

influencing the conduct of others which in turn gives rise to practical

implications. I’ve noticed over these years being married to my wife , that

relatives and friends of our Indian community who attend our immediate

family functions got eh extra mile to be dressed in their best Kancipuram

sarees as compared to the other functions they attend. They want to be

accepted in the whole and blend in the social context of the community and

got through the process of change with time.

When we talk about culture, identity and language, it is essential to focus on

cultural practices as well. The members of a specific culture are the ones to

give meaning on people, objects and events. The Indian community perceives

one of belonging to higher social status and traditional background in

Singapore, based on you’re the way are dressed ,for instance, when

attending a wedding ceremony. Even if you are holding a good position in

your professional life, your identity is usually represented by your tradition and

cultural upbringing. It is the people’s perception that gives meanings and

these meanings are dynamic. It is the individual use of things and what they

say, think and feel about them, in other words how people represent them

that people give meaning to them.

It can be understood that it is by this framework of interpretations that people

bring meaning to objects, people and events. As per my example, it is true to

some extend that people give meaning to things with regards to how they

incorporate such things into their lives. So it has become very important in our

society with whom we interact on the values they place on us as well as the

way they classify and conceptualize us.

“The circuit of culture” (p.2).

 Representation

Identity
Regulation

Production
Consumption

The circuit of culture proposes that meanings are produced at different sites

and passed through set of processes and practices. Meanings are constantly

produced and exchanged in every interaction, both personal and social.

Meanings as given in my example are also produced in different mode of

media, such as international communication by the use technologies, which is

responsible for passing meanings between different cultures on an escalating

scale. People incorporate the meanings that are produced in different ways

into their day to day activities.

In my example, it is to be noted that in all circumstances, language spoken or

unspoken continues to the media throughout to circulate meaning which is

produced. Therefore people regard language as a “symbol of their social

identity” (Kramch,1998, p.3).

It is evident that culture and language connects to identity of an individual on

the question on “What am I, who am I etc’. And it is through culture that one

forms his or her identity. It is in the culture of Indian to acknowledge elders

and bow to them as a mark of respect. It is in every Indian, acquired from

their culture, to serve even an enemy if they were to call at your doorstep.

They are to be invited into the house and offer a drink putting aside their

animosity. This culture of hospitality expressed by Indians give us an identity

throughout which has been communicated and transmitted through shared

meanings which is “language” in itself.

Conclusion

I have discussed with the examples of Indian culture on costume and

hospitality to show the interrelationship of culture, identity and language.

The relevance of interrelationship between culture, identity and language in

the field of social sciences has helped us to understand various meanings

and their shared meanings of things, events and actions.

Drawing on Stuart Hall’s idea of interconnection, we may be able comprehend

fully how meanings have been produced and transmitted as well as how they

relate to one’s identity and culture in our society.

References

Hall, S. (1997) Intoduction in Hall, S. (ed.) Representation:Cultural

representations and signifying practices. London:Sage, pp1-11.

Hall, S. (1997) Cultural identity and diaspora. In Woodward, K. (ed.) Identity

and Difference. London: SAGE Publication, pp.51-59.

Howwit, B. & Julian, R. (2002). Society and Culture. Australia:Heinemann

Society and Culture, pp.2-54.

Kramsch, C. (1998) The relationship of language and culture. In Language

and Culture. Oxford: oxford university Press, pp.3-14.

Woodward, K. (1997) Introduction. In Woodward, K. (ed.) Identity and

Difference. London: SAGE Publication, pp.8-21.