Language and Identity

We establish our identity through our use of language your spider diagrams showing different aspects of your identity gender, class etc gave examples of how you use language differently in different situations
mauve, lovely, adorable, sweet, cute mate, okay, bollocks, footie

blade, slide, rigger, back stops Like, so, totally, mint, minging

snicket, cob, snap, tha knows,

Language can be a powerful means of exercising social control if you belong to a particular group, this means adopting the linguistic conventions of that group can you think of any groups you are part of in which you have to use particular kinds of language? Identity, whether it is or, an individual, social or institutional level, is something which we are constantly building and negotiating all our lives through our interaction with others

Names and naming practices

The giving and using of names is fundamental to peoples identity it is what distinguishs us from other people. Different cultures have different naming practices e.g Russia son of x etc What kind of identity does your name give you? How do you feel if someone gets it wrong? How do different people address you in different contexts?

Systems of Address
The way people address you the degree of formality, intimacy or status affects the communication e.g Mr, boy, Sir, mate etc
"What's your name boy?" "Dr Poussaint. I'm a physician. "What's your first name, boy?" "Alvin." (Ervin Tripp, I980: 22)

Different cultures have different ways of addressing in public situations

 Language fits with other indicators of social identity and group membership such as style of clothes, type of haircut and taste in music. How would the people in the pictures address each other?

Another part of hippy fashion is the language of the subculture. English exploded with many new words in the '60s.
Ball: To have sex. Flaky: Someone unreliable, untrustworthy. City: Following certain words indicating a profoundness or a lot of the previous word. Burn: To get ripped off Bread: Money.

THE LANGUAGE

Astral Plane: A dimension of existence beyond the physical world. A place where disembodied spirits dwell. Many attempt to contact the astral plane through meditation or by using psychic energy. Bag: What you're into. Your profession/obsession. What you enjoy. "I hear your bag's nude meditation on acid!"

Freak Flag: Long Hair

Groove: A good habit or style. Bogart: To hog a joint while others are waiting.

Language and group identity

Language can give a strong sense of belonging or being excluded The first step of all invading forces, in wars of the past, was to eliminate the use of the native language this stops dissent but also destroys group and national identity e.g Scotland 1745 Gaelic was banned. Not being able to speak or understand a language effectively excludes you from a group or nation or makes you a second class citizen e.g not speaking English or not having an R.P accent.

Language and Global Identity

Why is the predominant language of the Internet English? What implications does this have for national identities? For the status of certain countries over others? For a sense of belonging?