Logos

Abstract

In this chapter, Altan’s scheme is enriched by Gramsci’s notion of sedimented social meanings of language. According to Gramsci, language negotiates the various social backgrounds of speakers so that it is shared but not unified, mirroring the sedimented differences within social structure. These ideas are employed for the analysis of situations in which belonging and difference are articulated in specifically marked idioms. First, it is described the meaning of different languages—Taiwanese, Chinese Mandarin and Hakka—for the local situation. In the second step, the analysis points into more detail in cases when certain people use certain terms and idioms to mark their position within the landscape of religion. Thus, people use idioms to mark the difference between them and their conversation partners, or their sameness within an environment that allows for different options. Are identified situations in which a Christian speaker marks his identity vis-à-vis a non-Christian, or speaks about non-Christians with a Christian, or identifies as Christian vis-à-vis another Christian. These situations are introduced by examples framed as stories, in which certain idioms communicate the difference. This results in a strong and differentiated analytical scheme and again highlights the immanent alterity of the situation.