Language and Identity: Discourse in the World

Evans, David

ISBN 10: 0567338169 / ISBN 13: 9780567338167

Published by Bloomsbury Academic (edition Illustrated), 2015

About this Item

It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Seller Inventory # 0567338169-11-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Language and Identity: Discourse in the World
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic (edition Illustrated)
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0567338169
• ISBN 13: 9780567338167
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: Illustrated.
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

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.

About the Author

David Evans is Honorary Research Fellow in the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences at Liverpool Hope University, UK.