230193 Constructing Identity in Spoken and Written Interaction (S) (WiSe 2023/2024)

What is identity? How can we trace it in the language we use daily? Is it pre-given and fixed or is it dynamic and changes when we communicate with each other? These are some of the central questions this course addresses to disentangle the multifaceted and complex nature of identity, a concept which is often described as "elusive" or "confusing". Focussing on online and offline contexts, this course explores the diverse ways in which people use language to construct, negotiate or highlight various facets of their identities in spoken and written interaction with others.
We will discuss major approaches to identity, its different forms (e.g. personal, group, collective) and the linguistic strategies that are used for its construction and negotiation. Topics include self-presentation and self-disclosure, bilingualism and code-switching, group identities (us vs. them), as well as the relationship between language and sociolinguistic variables (e.g. gender, age, ethnicity, or social class).
Students will gain hands-on experience in qualitative research methods, involving the systematic collection, preparation and analysis of language data from various contexts, each dealing with a specific identity-related issue. We will apply theoretical knowledge about identity to real-life issues in the Anglophone world and discuss the implications for interpersonal and intercultural communication.