Transacted Identities: Language and Self Negotiation in Interaction

Abstract

The present article aims to investigate how identity occurs dialogically – and not only – in social interaction, with personal and social identity overlapping and influencing each other, and the social actors transacting themselves based on their external cues. Identity negotiation, concept that stays at the core of our study, looks at the ways in which, starting from a specific agenda and precise goals, individuals engage in the creation of mutual identities, while also attempting to put on a favourable self-presentation for their interlocutors. The theoretical framework underpinning the research is set by the sociolinguistic paradigm, and the major importance attributed to language in the identity negotiation process is demonstrated in the second part of our research. The contribution concludes with some tentative observations and directions for further research.

Keywords

• language
• culture
• identity negotiation
• social interaction
• translation
• sociolinguistics
• code-switching