The French The French Language: identity, Language: identity,

diversity and diversity and changing changing

environments.environments.Lecture 1 Lecture 1 Michaelmas term 2012Michaelmas term 2012

Introduction to Language and Introduction to Language and IdentityIdentity

An introduction to An introduction to language and identitylanguage and identity

Aims of this course:Aims of this course: To illustrate the connections To illustrate the connections

between language and identitybetween language and identity To examine the symbolic and To examine the symbolic and

‘marking’ functions of language‘marking’ functions of language To examine the importance of the To examine the importance of the

contextualisation of identity and contextualisation of identity and different environmentsdifferent environments

Course outlineCourse outline French identity: the individual French identity: the individual

and the group (3 to 4 weeks)and the group (3 to 4 weeks) Personal and social identityPersonal and social identity Construction and maintenance of Construction and maintenance of

group identitygroup identity Speech mobility in FranceSpeech mobility in France Individual, regional and migrant Individual, regional and migrant

identities in Franceidentities in France

French language, ethnicity and French language, ethnicity and nationalism (3 to 4 weeks)nationalism (3 to 4 weeks)

French language and ethnic identityFrench language and ethnic identity French language and nationalismFrench language and nationalism New French identitiesNew French identities The language of French identity The language of French identity

negotiationnegotiation

French identity and computer-French identity and computer-mediated communication. ( 3 to 4 mediated communication. ( 3 to 4 weeks)weeks)

Language and the construction of Language and the construction of online identityonline identity

The construction of new French The construction of new French identities onlineidentities online

The effects of digital media on the The effects of digital media on the French languageFrench language

Lecture 1Lecture 1French identity: French identity:

the individual and the individual and the groupthe group

Reading for this weekReading for this week Edwards, J. (2009) Edwards, J. (2009) Language and Language and

Identity.Identity. Cambridge, Cambridge Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.: Introduction and University Press.: Introduction and Chapter 2Chapter 2

Introducing the concept of Introducing the concept of identityidentity

Paradoxical term:Paradoxical term:Latin root Latin root idemidem ‘the same’ ‘the same’

However, the term implies both However, the term implies both similarity and difference. How?similarity and difference. How?

Introducing the concept of Introducing the concept of identityidentity

(1) Identity is unique to us(1) Identity is unique to us(2) Identity also implies relationship(s)(2) Identity also implies relationship(s)Examples?Examples?

Introducing the concept of Introducing the concept of identityidentity

Much of the debate around identity Much of the debate around identity derives from the tension between derives from the tension between these two aspects:these two aspects:

self vs (multiple) identifications with self vs (multiple) identifications with others. others.

‘‘Who I am’ or ‘who I think I am’ also Who I am’ or ‘who I think I am’ also varies according to a number of varies according to a number of factors: factors:

Concept of identityConcept of identity Concern with questions of identity is Concern with questions of identity is

not a new development.not a new development. It has taken on a new urgency in the It has taken on a new urgency in the

contemporary world.contemporary world.

Accounting for identitiesAccounting for identities Psychological and sociological Psychological and sociological

approaches.approaches.

Identity, the individual and Identity, the individual and the groupthe group

Writings of Erik Erikson (1968) Writings of Erik Erikson (1968) situated individual aspects of situated individual aspects of identity in their social contexts.identity in their social contexts.

Early 1980’s saw the appearance of Early 1980’s saw the appearance of important studies focusing on the important studies focusing on the linguistic aspects of identity: e.g. linguistic aspects of identity: e.g. Gumperz (1982) and Le Page and Gumperz (1982) and Le Page and Toubouret Keller (1985) Toubouret Keller (1985)

Identity, the individual and Identity, the individual and the groupthe group

In more recent times: linguistic In more recent times: linguistic ethnography (Rampton et al, 2007)ethnography (Rampton et al, 2007)

Assumption: contexts for Assumption: contexts for communication should be communication should be investigated rather than assumed.investigated rather than assumed.

Identity, the individual and Identity, the individual and the groupthe group

Language can also be considered as Language can also be considered as a marker at the individual level.a marker at the individual level.

e.g. idiolect e.g. idiolect It could be argued that even It could be argued that even

idiolectal usage is a social or group idiolectal usage is a social or group phenomenon because most language phenomenon because most language involves a communicative intent.involves a communicative intent.

Identity, the individual and Identity, the individual and the groupthe group

However, the importance of However, the importance of language at the group level is much language at the group level is much more evident than that.more evident than that.

Examples of different linguistic Examples of different linguistic factors which mark identity?factors which mark identity?

Identity, the individual and Identity, the individual and the groupthe group

So, besides our uniquely personal So, besides our uniquely personal sense of self, we also have social sense of self, we also have social identities based on the various identities based on the various groups to which we belong.groups to which we belong.

Language and Language and CircumstanceCircumstance

Speech mobility: everyone possesses Speech mobility: everyone possesses a range of speaking styles.a range of speaking styles.

Bi-dialectalism and accent and style Bi-dialectalism and accent and style variations exist along a continuum. variations exist along a continuum.

Style: what is style?Style: what is style?

Stylistic variation: Martin Stylistic variation: Martin Joos (1967)Joos (1967)

Five distinct styles of English usage: Five distinct styles of English usage: frozen, formal, consultative, casual, frozen, formal, consultative, casual, intimateintimate

Attempts to illustrate that all ordinary Attempts to illustrate that all ordinary speakers have a range of possibilities speakers have a range of possibilities in their linguistic repertoire.in their linguistic repertoire.

They pick and choose from this They pick and choose from this according to their sense of occasionaccording to their sense of occasion

Speech accommodationSpeech accommodation If context determines linguistic If context determines linguistic

choice, equally, language choice can choice, equally, language choice can affect the social-psychological affect the social-psychological situation. situation.

e.g. Giles and Coupland, 1991: e.g. Giles and Coupland, 1991: language accommodation modellanguage accommodation model

Takes into account psychological Takes into account psychological position of speakers as well as position of speakers as well as listeners. listeners.

Speech accommodationSpeech accommodation (1) speakers may not be ‘consciously (1) speakers may not be ‘consciously

aware’ of their accommodative intent. aware’ of their accommodative intent. (2) not just a desire for approval which (2) not just a desire for approval which

may be behind speech accommodation.may be behind speech accommodation. (3) convergent accommodation does not (3) convergent accommodation does not

always produce the desired effect – it always produce the desired effect – it does not invariably lead to social does not invariably lead to social approval.approval.

Speech accommodations can be seen Speech accommodations can be seen as identity adjustments.as identity adjustments.