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Linguistic identity refers to a situation whereby a person considers himself or herself to be part of a certain group that speaks the same language. Most people become fluent in a second or third language at risk of losing their identity. My linguistic background is that I was raised in a linguistic environment where I used Xhosa as my home language and English at school. After that, I found myself in a different language where I need to use isiZulu. This may change somebody`s linguistic identity but not mine. The main reason for speaking more than one language is that when a person grows up, he or she continues to interact with various people and various institutions for the purpose of living or even relocating to other places in search of greener pastures. As a result of that, a person will be automatically forced to know, understand and speak different languages. Some people believe that if a person speaks more than one language, his or her linguistic identity will be lost but according to my opinion, I will not lose my linguistic identity due to the fact that I am now able to speak English, isiZulu, and isiXhosa.
I do not think my linguistic identity will change due to the fact that I am speaking more than one language because linguistic identity is influenced by many things. Some of the factors which influence linguistic identity are culture, race, religion, and background just to mention a few.
My culture will influence my linguistic identity positively in the following way; if people speak the same language, they behave and think in the same way. As people think and behave in a certain way they create culture. For example, all Xhosa people have their unique way of doing things. The way I behave culturally is influenced by my mother tongue, which I used to speak when I growing up. This is the reason I said that even though I speak more languages, my linguistics will not change because it is something inbuilt inside me. I will always behave like other Xhosa-speaking people.
My religion will influence my linguistic identity positively due to the following fact; I as a Xhosa speaking person, I followed my religion of Xhosa speaking people since I was a young person. In each and every religion, people use identical terminology and tone when expressing certain views. It is difficult to change my tone when speaking
regardless of the fact that I am now speaking more than two languages. This is a reason why I mentioned that my linguistic identity will not change because I am speaking more than two languages.
Furthermore, my race will also enhance my linguistic identity in the following way; I am a black or African person. Even though I have white friends who speak Tswana, I will never ever change my linguistic identity. It is difficult to change the way I do my things regardless of the fact that I have white friends. I will learn and speak Afrikaans every day but I will always be comfortable when speaking Zulu. This clearly shows that my linguistic identity will not change because I am now speaking more than two languages but my race will influence positively my linguistic identity.
The English language will now dominate my thinking and worldview because it is a Universal language. I speak the English language at school and at work. It now dominates my thinking and worldview because I am now spending most of my time at school and at work. As a result of that, I always speak English most of the time, that is the reason why I mentioned that the English language will now dominate my thinking and world view.
Regardless of the fact that I am now always speaking English most of the time at work and at school, this will not affect my cultural beliefs and identity. I speak English at school and work and I speak isiXhosa at home. Usually, things that affect cultural beliefs and identity are done at home. The events such as ceremonial celebrations are done at home. People always speak Xhosa and follow their culture. There is done relating to the culture at school and work. At school and work, people always do their core business like learning and working. These things are nothing to do with culture and belief, that is the reason why I said speaking English at school and work will not affect my cultural beliefs and identity.
To sum up, my culture, religion, and race contributed very much to who I am today. In my life, I have to follow my culture and my religion in order to succeed. As a result that my linguistic identity will not change and not be affected by the association of different people at school and at work, who speak different languages.
because whenever they speak and appreciate something, they mentioned the word Siyabonga is a clear indication that whenever we use language, we reflect who we are. It is not only isiZulu who have their special words for expressing themselves but other groups of people have their special words for expressing themselves, hence linguistic identity will be maintained.
The fifth post or comment is from a white person. He said, At work, I will always want to work in the Administration department using computers and I am not used to hard labor ``. This clearly shows that this post is from a white person because at work they always want to work in the Administration department using computers, working with technologies such as computers is a pre-requisite for white people. Added to that they are not used to hard labor, which is a reason he mentioned that I am not used to hard labor. It is a clear indication that whenever we use languages, we reflect who we are.
In conclusion, the way we post or comment reflects who we are due to the following reasons; they are certain special words that are used by a certain religion, certain cultures show respect and kindness whilst others do not show, preferences from individuals, other cultures use slang when using language but other cultures do not, just to mention a few.
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