Alondra Rodriguez

English 28

Professor Holy Batty

December 10, 2017

Language Affects Identity

There are many languages spoken around the world. Language is not only an important aspect

of communication, but it is one of the most essential commodities needed in order to succeed.

Language is extremely important to me because without it I wouldnt have the ability to transmit

and transport my ideas.

I currently speak both Spanish and English fluently. This has affected my identity in many ways.

They have created many barriers and have helped me overcome many obstacles. Ones

vernacular plays a small role in how peoples identities are formed.

Not knowing a foreign countrys language is not even the same as being deaf. If you are deaf,

you can always use sign language, read and write. Not knowing the primary language of a

country or struggling to communicate makes you have internal fights and miss out on many

things. It may cause someone to be judged because they have a different accent and use

different terminology. When someone changes their way of speaking because they feel they are

being judged by others, it means that they are changing their identity. Speech and language are

an identity which differs from each person. Due to this, their identity is formed.

For those two years that I moved to Mexico really helped me a lot once I moved back to the

United States. The struggles that I had with the language, culture, food, and school caused

those internal flights and have all adapted my identity positively by causing me to be persistent

and overcome those obstacles. The transition was tough and disoriented. In Mexico I was

learning Spanish and sign language at the same time. My focus was Spanish language because
it is a universal language and I knew I would need to know it. Already focused, I entered a world

where communication and speaking up was everything. In this country, no one will give you

anything, you have to speak for yourself and take it. said my aunt on the way back from the

airport.

My battle with the Spanish language still torments me to this day. Being bilingual has also

helped me a lot. When I walk in a classroom now, everyone does not look at me differently

because I noticed in this generation now its way different then how it was before. My

classmates and friends accept me as who I am and see my bilingualism as an advantage and

positive attribute. Language affects my identity by changing it. I had to change my identity to

move forward and fit in because being unable to communicate was hurting me. This is how

language affects my identity, by conforming to society.