Home> Archive> 2012> Volume 2 Number 6 (Nov. 2012)
IJSSH 2012 Vol.2(6): 465-467 ISSN: 2010-3646
DOI: 10.7763/IJSSH.2012.V2.148

Language Identity and Cultural Difference

Hang Zou

Abstract—The question of the interrelationship between language, identity and cultural difference is a major concern for many social theorists and cultural researchers. As is well-known, language, identity and cultural difference are closely connected and influence each other. Stuart Hall has examined the relations between language, identity and cultural difference in his articles which provide us with a deeper understanding of all these inter-related forces. The following essay discusses Hall’s work in this area in the following way. Firstly, definitions of the key terms: ‘language’, ‘identity’ and ‘cultural difference’ will be offered. Secondly, Hall’s theory of the connection between those factors will be discussed. Thirdly, I provide an example from my own life as a way of illustrating the connections. Finally, I evaluate the degree to which Hall’s theory is applicable to my personal experience and where there may be limits to his account of the relations between language, identity and cultural difference. The essay aims at providing a thorough understanding of the connections which will better equip learners with cross-cultural knowledge for future studies or work.

Index Terms—Language, identity, cultural difference, interpretation.

Hang Zou is with the School of Foreign Languages, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China (e-mail: zouhang1026@163.com).

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Cite: Hang Zou, "Language Identity and Cultural Difference," International Journal of Social Science and Humanity vol. 2, no. 6, pp. 465-467, 2012.

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