(Re)construção de identidades em narrativas na primeira pessoa : casos de bilingues

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

1998

RESUMO

The aim of this research, based on the analysis of narratives in the first person, is to investigate how bilinguals (re)construct their identities based on their experience. The subjects are women, eight adolescents and six adults, who have lived in an English speaking country, Canada, the United States or England for a minimum of three years. Two preemisses quides this study: 1) That while globalization works as a homogenizing force today, new politically articulated identities promote difference; 2) that in the process of narrating our experience we are (re )interpreting our identities in the present context Because the understanding of this context was important, participant observation and field notes were included, besides the audio recording of the narratives. Three questions were asked to generate these narratives: 1) How did you learn your other language?; 2) What is your experience as a bilinguallike?; 3) How does being a bilingual affect you? The subjects produced both narration and commentary about their experience and how they see themselves. In this case, my questions determined the choice of events that were related to the theme of second language acquisition. My conclusion, through this study, was that these bilinguals (re)construct their identities in an ambivalent way, presenting several images ofthemselves, that compose an intricate and dynamic whole. They affirmed both permanence and change, both growth as Brazilians and a distancing from Brazil. They talked about people as co-participants in one group, only to exclude them when referring to another group identity. They presented many co-existing images about themselves, corresponding to their own opinion and the opinion of others, in such a way that the focus shifts back and forth on the image that is emphasized. FinaIly, they spoke oftheir experience with another language and another cuIture as enriching, in spite of the difticulties it brings when relating to monolinguals or those who do not share that reality. The impression left is of an unfinished story, ever changing and bringing new interpretations to past experience

ASSUNTO(S)

bilinguismo globalização linguistica aplicada identidade

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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