Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Language and identity among British South Asians: A theoretical review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Psychological Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Given the pervasiveness of language in social life and the implications that language use can have for one’s individual and collective identities, attempts were made to explore the theoretical and empirical advantages in connecting social psychological theories of identity and sociological/sociolinguistic approaches to language use and language choices in order to make sense of language and identity among second-generation British Asians. The current theoretical essay features a brief overview of the sociology of British Asians in the United Kingdom and a detailed consideration of dominant theories of identity in social psychology, namely, Social Identity Theory Tajfel (1982), Self-Aspects Model of Identity (Simon 2004) and Identity Process Theory (Breakwell 1986). It is considered that the latter two theories lend themselves readily to the study of language and identity. The present essay considers the substantive literature on language and identity and deconstructs notions such as ‘mother tongue’ in an attempt to demonstrate the constructedness of such terminology. It is argued that a social psychological approach to questions of language and identity among British South Asians is a valid one and that a qualitative methodological approach is particularly well-suited to the area under investigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abizadeh A (2001). Ethnicity, race, and a possible humanity. World Order, 33.1:23–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alam F (2007). Language and identity in ‘Glaswasian’ adolescents. Unpublished MLitt Dissertation, University of Glasgow.

  • Baker C (2001). Foundations of Bilingual education and Bilingualism. New York: Multilingual Matters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker C & Jones SP (1998). Bilingualism in communities. In C Baker & SP Jones (Eds.), Encyclopedia of bilingualism and bilingual education. Philadelphia: Clevedon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballard R (1994). Desh pardesh: The South Asian presence in Britain. London: Hurts and Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barz R & Siegel J (1988). Language transplanted: The development of overseas Hindi. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blom J & Gumperz J (1968). Social meaning in linguistic structures: Code-switching in Norway. In JJ Gumperz & D Hymes (Eds.), Directions in sociolinguistics. New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloomfield L (1927). Literate and illiterate speech. American Speech 2:432–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blunkett D (2002). Integration with diversity: Globalisation and the renewal of democracy and civil society. In M Leonard & P Griffith (Eds.), Reclaiming Britishness. London: The Foreign Policy Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourhis RY & Giles H (1977). The language of intergroup distinctiveness. In H Giles (Ed.), Language, ethnicity and intergroup relations. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breakwell GM (1986). Coping with threatened identities. London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown R & Agenda (2000). Social identity theory: past achievements, current problems and future challenges. European Journal of Social Psychology, 30:745–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carbonero P (2003). Estudios de Sociolingüística Andaluza. Sevilla: Secretariado de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Sevilla.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casciani D (2003). Bilingual Asian children ‘do better’. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3236188.stm. Retrieved BBC News Online website, 2 April 2008

  • Chryssochoou X (2004). Cultural diversity: Its Social Psychology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho G (2000). The role of the heritage language in social interactions and relationships: Reflections from a language minority group. Bilingual Research Journal, 24(4):369–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen R (2000). The incredible vagueness of being British/English (Review article). International Affairs, 76(3):575–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daller H (2005). Language shift and group identity: Mennonite immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Germany, In symposium (4th: 2005, Somerville MA) on Bilingualism (pp 583–593). Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies A (1991). The native speaker in applied linguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deshpande M (1979). Sociolinguistic attitudes in India: A historical reconstruction. Ann Arbor: Karoma Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies A (2003). The native speaker: Myth and reality. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards J (1985). Language, society and identity. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards J (1992). Language in group and individual identity. In GM Breakwell (Ed.), Social psychology of identity and the self concept (pp 129–146). London: Surrey University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards V (2000). Community languages. In G Price (Ed.), Languages in Britain and Ireland. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards J & Chisholm J (1987). Language, multiculturalism and identity. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 8:391–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ennaji M (1999). The Arab World (Maghreb and Near East). In JA Fishman (Ed.), Handbook of language and ethnic identity (pp 382–395). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishman JA (1972). Language and nationalism: Two integrative essays. Rowley: Newbury House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishman JA (1991). Reversing language shift. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giles H, Bourhis RY & Taylor DM (1977). Towards a theory of language in ethnic group relations. In H Giles (Ed.), Language, ethnicity and intergroup relations. London: Academic Press Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giles H & Johnson P (1981). Ethnolinguistic identity theory: a social psychological approach to language maintenance. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 68: 69–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris R (2006). New ethnicities and language use. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings C & Jones B (2006). Bollywood is more successful in UK than British-made films. Retrieved on 27/04/2008 from The Telegraph website. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/20/wbolly20.xml

  • Hewitt R (1986). White talk black talk: Inter-racial friendship and communication amongst adolescents. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herberg E (1989). Ethnic groups in Canada. Toronto: Nelson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiro D (1973). Black British, White British. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogg MA & Williams KD (2000). From I to we: Social identity and the collective self. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 4:81–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hornby P (1977). Bilingualism: Psychological, social and educational implications. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornsey MJ (2008). Social identity theory and self-categorization Theory: A historical review. Social and Personality Psychology Compass 2(1):204–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hudson RA (1996). Sociolinguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson J (1997). Perceptions of Britishness. Nations and Nationalism, 3(2):181–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaspaert K, Kroon S & Van Hout R (1986). Points of reference in first language loss research. In B Weltens, K De Bot & T Van Els (Eds.), Language attrition in progress. Dordrecht: Foris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kannapell B (1993). Language choice — Identity choice. Burtonsville, MD: Linstok Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan Z (2000). Muslim presence in Europe: The British dimension-identity, integration, and community activism. Current Sociology, 48(4):29–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Labov W, Ash S & Boberg C (2006). Atlas of North American English. Amsterdam: DeGruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert W & Taylor D (1984). Language in the education of ethnic minority children in Canada. In R Samuda & JW Berry M Laferriere (Eds.), Multiculturalism in Canada: Social and educational perspectives. Toronto: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lodge A (1993). French: From dialect to standard. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Maira SM (2002). Desis in the house: Indian American youth culture in New York City. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles C (1996). Bilingual children in special education: Acquisition of language and culture by British Pakistani children attending a school for pupils with severe learning difficulties. M.Phil dissertation, University of Birmingham.

  • Modood T, Berthoud R, Lakey J, Nazroo J, Smith P, Virdee S & Beishon S (1997). Ethnic minorities in Britain: Diversity and disadvantage. London: Policy Studies Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore E (2003). Learning and identity: A sociolinguistic analysis of a Bolton high school. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Manchester.

  • Myhill J (2003). The native speaker, identity and the authenticity hierarchy. Language Sciences, 25:77–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Office for National Statistics (2003). Retrieved on 2 April 2008 from National Statistics Website: http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=27 6826&c=derby&d=13&e=13&g=393297&i=1 001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1206486754096&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812.

  • Nesdale D (2004). Social identity processes and children’s ethnic prejudice. In M Bennett and F Sani (Eds.), The development of the social self. Hove: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paikeday PM (1985). The Native Speaker is Dead! Ontario: Paikeday Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phinney JS (2003). Ethnic identity and acculturation. In KM Chun PB Organista & G Marin (Eds.), Acculturation: Advances in theory, Measurement, and applied research. Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pujol J (1996). Cataluña — España, Madrid: Editorial Espasa Calpe SA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rampton B (1995). Crossing: Language and ethnicity among adolescents. London: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roccas S & Brewer MB (2002). Social identity complexity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 6:88–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogin M (1992). Making America home: Racial masquerade and ethnic assimilation in the transition to talking pictures. The Journal of American History, 79(3).

  • Scott A, Pearce D & Goldblatt P (2001). The sizes and characteristics of the minority ethnic populations of Great Britain — latest estimates. Population Trends, 105:6–15.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Segal L (2001). Has psychology become respectable at last? The Guardian, March 13th 2001.

  • Simon B (2004). Identity in modern society: A social psychological perspective. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Dasgupta P & Lele JK (1995). Explorations in Indian sociolinguistics. New Delhi: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith JA (1996a). Beyond the divide between cognition and discourse: Using interpretative phenomenological analysis in health psychology. Psychology and Health, 11:261–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JA (1996b). Evolving issues for qualitative research. In JTE Richardson (Ed.), Handbook of qualitative research methods for psychology and the social sciences. Leicester: BPS Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stryker S & Serpe S (1994). Identity salience and psychological centrality: Equivalent, overlapping or complementary concepts? Social Psychology Quarterly, 57:16–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taft R (1973). Migration: Problems of adjustment and assimilation in immigrants. In P Watson (Ed.), Psychology and race. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tajfel H (1982). Social psychology of intergroup relations. Annual Review of Psychology, 33:1–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tay MWJ (1982). The uses, users and features of English in Singapore. In J Pride (Ed.), English in the world: Teaching and learning the language and literatures. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traugott EC & Pratt ML (1980). Linguistics for students of Literature. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tse L (1998). Ethnic identity formation and its implications for heritage language development. In SD Krashen, L Tse & J McQuillan (Eds.), Heritage language development. Culver City, CA: Language Education Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner JC, Hogg MA, Oakes PJ, Reicher SD & Wetherell MS (Eds.), (1987). Rediscovering the social group: A self-categorization theory. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vadher K (2005). Boundaries of Britishness in British Indians and Pakistanis. MSc Dissertation, University of Surrey.

  • Verkuyten M (2005). The social psychology of ethnic identity, Hove: Psychology Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wong-Filmore L (2000). Loss of family languages: Should educators be concerned? Theory into Practice, 39(4):203–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woods JR (2005). A study of intersubjectivity in children’s meaning-making at a multicultural London primary school. Unpublished PhD thesis. Brunel University.

  • You B (2005). Children negotiating Korean American ethnic identity through their heritage language. Bilingual Research Journal, 29.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK

    Rusi Jaspal

Authors
  1. Rusi Jaspal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rusi Jaspal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jaspal, R. Language and identity among British South Asians: A theoretical review. Psychol Stud 55, 61–70 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-010-0007-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-010-0007-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation