Bilingual identity: issues of self-identification of bilinguals in Malaysia and Tatarstan
Am I English when I speak English and Russian when I speak Russian if I use both equally well? Am I the same when I speak English and when I speak Russian? In what cases would I prefer to use which one of them? These questions are at the core of the issue of the identity of bilinguals, particularl...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, FSSK, UKM
2015
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/9074/1/9125-27902-1-PB.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/9074/ http://ejournal.ukm.my/3l |
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| Summary: | Am I English when I speak English and Russian when I speak Russian if I use both equally well? Am I the same
when I speak English and when I speak Russian? In what cases would I prefer to use which one of them? These
questions are at the core of the issue of the identity of bilinguals, particularly if they suffer in any way from
fragmented identity, linguistic interference, misunderstanding in a monolingual society and other related
problems. This paper aims to look closely at these issues in certain bilingual environments in order to define the
role of multilingualism in the self-identification of an individual. Reflecting on experience over forty years of
teaching bilinguals, multilinguals and L2 English-speakers, we may draw the conclusion that anomie, identityconflict,
results not from the experience of bilingualism or multilingualism per se but arises where anxiety and
lack of self-confidence in one's own identity - either individually or collectively - is already present. It seems
evident, then, that the root cause of alienation lies not in bilingualism itself but in the conflict of cultures. The
implication appears to be that cultural self-identification governs language proficiency rather than is
determined by it. |
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