Language Identity

     The readings this week focused on language, and how it can help for a linguistic and cultural identity. Norton explained concepts of poststructuralism and the idea of language identity.  One aspect of this article I found interesting was Norton's explanation of imagined language communities.  She states, "An extension of interest in identity and investment concerns the imagined communities that language learners aspire to join when they learn a new language" (355)  A language learners perception of the language community could help attribute to their identity.  I thought that this translated relatively well with Pavlenko's article.

     In her article, she touched upon memoirs of immigrants and their views of language, English, and their American identities.  I feel that each of these autobiographies touched upon the individual's imagined language community.  Some felt that in their perceived language community, English was most vital.  In one case, an immigrant felt his Danish was too underdeveloped, so he adopted English.  Another thought that speaking in his mother tongue was essential and of utmost importance.  Other immigrants associated English with the American dream.  In their esteemed communities, there were particular balances of power.  Often times, these balances helped form linguistic identities for these individuals.