Problem
The Relationship Between Language and Identity
One's native tongue is a powerful emblem of that person's identity and a means by which that person makes that identity known to others. Some people also classify individuals based on the languages they speak.
There are a wide variety of social identities and social groupings to which individuals might belong. It's possible to identify someone as "a teacher," "a Real Madrid fan," "a German," "a Parisian," etc.
The way we use language has a huge impact on how others perceive us. That's why it's so important that people use it in a way that they can be themselves. Languages can also help shape and define who they are. Using language can help us make a unique identity that is both meaningful and distinct. We can achieve this by carefully choosing our words and expressing ourselves in a way that is representative of who we are.
Each given community, whether it be a regional group with its own dialect or a football team's fan club with its own jargon, speaks its own language or at least its own version of a language.
Identity development and language acquisition are both ongoing, dynamic processes. Realizing this, they might "play" with their identities and languages by switching from one language or dialect to another on purpose during a discussion to indicate a shift in persona. It has been proven that young individuals are skilled at this when they transition from one social setting to another.