Communication is an important aspect of an intimate relationship. It
becomes even more important when both partners do not have the same native language and one of both (or sometimes both when a lingua franca is used) has to express in a language s/he is not completely proficient in, and e.g. might not know all connotations of the meanings. The level of proficiency one has in a language is important for the identity that is established or, i.e. negotiated through communication.
The frame of this paper is based on the framework of positioning by Harré and Davies (1990) and it aims to apply ideas from this framework to data I gathered from an intimate bilingual conversation. Furthermore, an article by Piller (2000) aboutLanguage choice in bilingual, cross-cultural interpersonal communication,analyzing language choice in bilingual intimate conversations, specifically Anglo-German couples, and their reasons should be taken into consideration.
This article is organized as following: first, I will give an introduction into the notions of positioning, identity, negotiation of identity. It implies that identities “are constructed in and through discourse.” (Riley, 2006: 297). In a next step, I will take a closer look at the language choice in bilingual relationships, I will identify possible reasons for one language to be chosen, and compare these with my own experience being a German and having a relationship with an American. The last part consists in analyzing the transcript. I have two transcripts that I will take into consideration: one is in English, and the other one is in German. I aim to examine how the language choice determines the positioning of each of the communication partners, and consequently, what impact does the fact of being a native or a non-native speaker has on the identity. Moreover, I will look at the distribution of the dominant role, and if the native speaker is in the more dominant position merely because s/he is the more proficient speaker, or if there are other factors determine each positions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Positioning and identity
3. Communication in bilingual couples and language choice
4. Transcript
5. Summary
Objectives and Topics
This paper investigates the dynamics of identity construction and negotiation within bilingual intimate relationships, specifically analyzing how language choice and the status of native versus non-native speaker influence conversational power and positioning between partners.
- The theoretical application of Harré and Davies’ framework of positioning to intimate discourse.
- The impact of language proficiency and native speaker status on interpersonal power distribution.
- The role of linguistic corrections as a tool for interactive positioning and identity negotiation.
- A comparative analysis of conversations held in both German and English by the same bilingual couple.
Excerpts from the Book
Positioning and identity
Positioning, as stated by Davies and Harré (1990), describes the process how individuals locate themselves or are located in a conversation. I call it a process because the position an individual takes or is given is not fixed, but emerges in the conversation the individual engages in. Moreover, people are continuously involved in this process of creating and positioning selves and others.
Davies and Harré (1990) differ between two kinds of positioning: when an individual positions another, they call is interactive positioning, whereas when one individual positions oneself, it is labeled reflective positioning. For positioning somebody, it has to be taken into consideration that every individual has constraints that determine her/his capacity for positioning. One the one hand constraints result from an interpretation of the world, according to personal experiences. Therefore, one can position her/himself or the other one only in terms that are available to her/him.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the importance of communication in intimate bilingual relationships and introduces the research framework based on positioning theory and language choice.
Positioning and identity: This section defines the concepts of interactive and reflective positioning and explains how identities are constructed through discursive practices and social interaction.
Communication in bilingual couples and language choice: This chapter examines the influence of habit, environment, and power dynamics on the language choices made by bilingual couples.
Transcript: This part provides a detailed analysis of two conversations—one in German and one in English—focusing on how linguistic corrections and turn-taking determine the dominant roles of the partners.
Summary: This chapter concludes the paper by synthesizing findings on how the roles of native and non-native speakers are not fixed but emerge through ongoing conversational negotiation.
Keywords
Positioning, Identity, Negotiation, Bilingualism, Language choice, Native speaker, Non-native speaker, Discourse, Intimate relationship, Power distribution, Interpersonal communication, Conversational analysis, Linguistic correction, Identity construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores how identity is constructed and negotiated through communication in bilingual intimate relationships, specifically looking at how partners position one another.
What are the central themes discussed?
The core themes include the framework of positioning, the influence of native versus non-native speaker status, the impact of language choice on power dynamics, and the role of linguistic corrections.
What is the core research question?
The research examines how language choice determines the positioning of communication partners and what impact being a native or non-native speaker has on their identity and dominance within the relationship.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The author uses qualitative discourse analysis, specifically applying the framework of positioning by Harré and Davies (1990) to transcripts of intimate conversations.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section analyzes theoretical concepts of identity, summarizes research on language choice in bilingual couples, and provides a comparative study of two transcripts from the same couple.
How would you characterize the study using keywords?
The study is best characterized by terms such as positioning, identity negotiation, bilingual communication, power dynamics, and discourse analysis.
How do linguistic corrections affect the couple's relationship?
The author argues that corrections often function as a way to establish dominance, and when performed frequently in intimate settings, they can lead to anxiety and frustration for the non-native speaker.
Does the native speaker status automatically imply a dominant role?
The author concludes that while it might seem that the native-speaker role is inherently more powerful, the dominant role is not fixed; it is negotiated and depends on whether the other partner accepts or rejects that positioning.
- Quote paper
- Steffi Kny (Author), 2006, Positioning and negation of identities in a bilingual intimate communication, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/68420
