Language Awareness Forum 1 Language and Identity French 102 Vanderbilt University Copyright Virginia M. Scott 2013 All Rights Reserved

Series Overview This semester you will see 3 presentations designed to make you think about second language learning. Each presentation will begin with guiding questions to engage you in the material; the presentations end with discussion topics. After each presentation you will write a 1 ½ page reflection on the topic synthesizing your thoughts and reactions. LAF 1

Guiding questions What does “identity” mean? In what ways might your identity change by studying French ? What is the relationship between language and identity for French speakers in the world today? (Picasso, 1925) LAF 1

What does “identity” mean? This term is not easily defined; very generally, it refers to a person’s mental image of him or herself. Some psychologists distinguish between personal identity (what makes each person unique) and social identity (the ways people identify with particular social groups). LAF 1

Identity formation What shapes a person’s identity? Cognition – how you think about things Emotions – how you feel about things Experience – your life story Choice – what you decide Most psychologists and sociologists think of identity as dynamic and fluid rather than static or fixed. Many sociologists think that personal and social identity are tightly interconnected. Research suggests that a person’s identity changes during the course of the lifespan. LAF 1

The language/identity connection Think about these quotes: “Language learning is a site of identity construction.” (Pavlenko, 2002, p. 286). “Language study is an initiation into a kind of social practice that is at the boundary of two or more cultures and languages.” (Train, 2002, p. 13) “Learners make a foreign language and culture their own by adopting and adapting it to their own needs and interests.” (Kramsch, 1998, p. 81). LAF 1

The language/identity connection Regardless of ... … your reasons for choosing to study French OR your sense of yourself as a student of French … … your identity is being shaped by your experiences as French language learner. FRANÇAIS LAF 1

The bigger picture What is your place as a speaker of French in the larger Francophone world? LAF 1

French in the world Approximately 70 million people are native speakers of French; about 220 million people speak it as a second language. French is an official language in 29 countries and also the official language of all United Nations agencies and a large number of international organizations. Demographic research suggests that French speakers will number approximately 500 million people in 2025. LAF 1

French in the world LAF 1

French language and identity French-speaking people in France show their identity through behavior, dress, and LANGUAGE (among other things) … LAF 1

French language and identity French-speaking people in countries that are former colonies may have mixed feelings about when, where, and why they speak French. Jërejëf (Merci en Wolof) LAF 1

French language and identity The 6 million native speakers of French in Canada have strong feelings about the connection between language and identity. The motto “je me souviens” reminds them to remember their ancient lineage, traditions, and memories of the past. LAF 1

je suis tu es il/elle/on est nous sommes vous êtes ils/elles sont So, learning French is … … more than learning grammar. … more than learning vocabulary. … more than learning culture. je suis tu es il/elle/on est nous sommes vous êtes ils/elles sont la bouche l’oreille l’oeil /les yeux LAF 1

When choosing to study French… … you are joining a community of French-speaking people. … you are developing an awareness about what you think and how you feel about French language and cultures: you may have a pre-conceived set of notions about how French-speaking people look, dress, and speak. you may want to try to speak/act/be like French-speaking people in an effort to be accepted. you may want to retain dimensions of your own language and culture and establish a boundary between yourself and French-speaking people. CONVERSATION 1 AFTER THIS SLIDE LAF 1

Ultimately, learning French … “… engages the identities of learners because language itself is not only a linguistic system of signs and symbols, it is also a complex social practice in which the value and meaning ascribed to an utterance are determined in part by the value and meaning ascribed to the person who speaks…. Thus, language learners are not only learning a linguistic system, they are learning a diverse set of sociocultural practices, often best understood in the context of wider relations of power.” (Norton & Toohey, 2002, p. 115) LAF 1

Reflection topic Read “The Quebec National Identity” from the Encyclopedia of Canada’s People: www.multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/c4/3 Write a 1 ½ page essay in English answering these two questions: 1) The article mentions the idea that "identity is defined by borders and based on political power, which is the only real guarantee of its maintenance and longevity" (paragraph 2).  Do you agree with this idea?  Can you think of any examples of social identity that is not based on political power? 2) Does your emerging identity as a member of a community of French-speaking people shape how you understand the language issues in Canada? Explain. LAF 1

Bibliography Kramsch, C. (1998). Language and culture. New York: Oxford UP Norton, B., & Toohey, K. (2002). Identity and language learning. In R. B. Kaplan (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of applied linguistics (pp. 115-123). New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pavlenko, A. (2002). Poststructuralist approaches to the study of social factors in second language learning and use. In V. Cook (Ed.), Portraits of the L2 User (pp. 277-302). Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters. Train, R. W. (2002). The (non)native standard language in foreign language education: A critical perspective. In C. Blyth (Ed.), The sociolinguistics of foreign-language classrooms (pp. 3-39). Boston, MA: Heinle. LAF 1