Identity & Style

identity

• Each individual has multiple identities and chooses

which one to use depending on the context

• Identity might change over time, with

circumstances, situations and people

• We might have identities within us that seem

contradictory

Situational identity choice based on:

• Covert and overt prestige

• Ingroup/ outgroup

five types of identities

• Psychological Identity

• how we perceive ourselves mentally and emotionally

• Individual Identity

• who we think we are at our core

• Social Identity

• how we portray ourselves in a social situation

• Collective Identity

• groups that we feel we belong to

• Cultural Identity

• cultural groups that we feel we belong to

Internal language

Language that allows us internally to shape our identities

External language

Certain words, selected both consciously and subconsciously, to

present ourselves externally to the world around us

Style & Style-shifting

Dialect/Idiolect

- Dialect = variety of a standard language

- use dialect or standard language → be perceived as part of a group or not

part of a group

- Idiolect = individual’s own unique use of language that is developed over time

(includes favourite words or expressions)

- use idiolects consciously or sub-consciously to express identity

- Dialect levelling = consciously learning the standard language, and choosing

to use it rather than a dialect, in order to fit in with a group

- Accent reduction (pronunciation aspect of language) = speaker can choose to

learn how to use a specific language with native pronunciation in order to

change how they are perceived by those around them

5 main categories of style

Static/Frozen: A formal set of language use that never changes or changes only marginally

➢ The Lord’s Prayer, constitutional documents, legal documents

Formal: A very formal, one-way style of communication

➢ speeches, lectures, pronouncements

Consultative: Used in groups of two or more people where one person provides information or advice

➢ doctor - patient, lawyer - client

Casual: An informal style of communication used amongst people who are socially equal (friends or peers)

➢ inside jokes, vocabulary that is unique to the group, common specific phrases

Intimate: An informal style of language used between people who are very close, such as family members or

spouses that is characterized by emotional communication

Audience design

Influence of the addressee on style

• Age of addressee

• Social background/status of addressee

• Relationship to addressee

• Language of addressee (variety, proficiency, …)

• Topic of conversation

speech convergene

consciously attuning your style of language to a group in order to fit in.

When people talk to each other, their speech often becomes more similar = one person’s speech converges

towards the speech of the other person

→ Speech accommodation

Happens

• when people like each other

• when one wants to please the other

• when one wants to put the other at ease

→ Polite speech strategy: addressee’s speech is acceptable and worth imitating

speech divergence

exaggerating your language style in order to strongly reinforce lack of membership in a

group.

Deliberately choosing a language not used by one’s addressee = speech divergence

Reasons

• Political statement (e.g. minority linguistic groups using their variety: Māori in court)

• Accent divergence: signal wish to distinguish themselves

• Not always indicator of negative attitude! If divergent forms admired, divergence used to benefit the diverger

Divergence from both styles (own and addressee’s) towards style of third party for special effect = referee design

(a third party is referred to although they are not present)

• Example: imitate teacher for amusement, imitate speech of migrant parent

speech maintenance

maintaining your language style in order to reinforce lack of membership in a group

stylisation

going beyond the usual ways of speaking/ behaving and engaging in a ‘high‘ or ‘strong‘ performance

→ Comedians and singers (New Zealand singer using US accent; Drag queens using features of stereotypically

feminine speech to perform a differently gendered identity)