Language/Identity
Language and Identity
A large part of culture has to do with the language that people speak. It is a unifying concept that allows a group of people to identify one another as belonging to the same group. It does matter how the group is bounded, usually more by geographical bounds than ethnic of racial, it matters more how the person related to the world through the spoken word. This paper looks at the culture of the Caribbean, especially those people who were brought to the region as slaves from the African continent, and how they have maintained their identity through the commonality of language.
Many examples exist in literature that solidify the notion that language and identity are very closely intertwined. As a matter of fact, one author states "Language and identity are inseparable. The quest for identity is another prevalent concern in Caribbean literature" (Dance 5). Why is it such a "prevalent concern" as Dance puts it. The reason is that they were a people without a culture. Studies into the slave trade have shown that slavery was much more difficult for the person so ensnared the further South one went. This does not mean that they were any less a slave as the geography changed, but that the hot and humid conditions combined with the work conditions meant that death was much quicker and the people even more...
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now