C.6 Metabolismo

Language identity is understood as the assumed and/or attributed relationship between one’s sense of self and a particular language or dialect (Block, 2007). According to Leung, Harris and Rampton (1997), a language identity is about three types, language expertise, language affiliation and language inheritance. So a second language identity is one’s sense of self in relation to an additional language apart from his/her mother tongue. In this study, Dong is the only participant among the four that revealed a clear second language identity, an English speaking identity, as he presented a certain level of English speaking expertise and an affiliation towards the English language.

7.2.2.1 The English speaking expertise

Dong showed a good understanding of the English language through the constant use of English words in the interviews and a discussion of the differences between

American English and British English. For example, when we talked about watching movies, he claimed that he prefers English movies and would focus particularly on the pronunciation, and the word “pronunciation” was articulated in English instead of Chinese (See in [00:04:28] in Dong’s Interview transcript in the appendix). Then he proceeded to comment that British accent is more “gentle”, also in English (See in [00:04:36]). Later on, when I asked him about the study content in a summer school, he replied “grammar” in English. Then as we discussed the motivation to learn English, he commented that being “subjective” is important (See in [00:17:52]). (“Subjective” was actually wrongly used here, so I double checked with him. And according to him, by “subjective”, he meant “self-motivated”. )

Since Dong stated that he prefers British English than American English, he shared his knowledge about the two variations of the language in terms of the vocabulary, in addition to the accent aspect we have discussed before:

[Dong] Excerpt 4

[00:16:40]D: There is also a difference in vocabulary between British English and American English. For example, the British say “underground”, while the American say “subway”. Also there is “flat” and “apartment”. I think it is quite interesting. But for us non-native speakers, it just depends on personal preference. But personally, I think “underground” is more appropriate.

As discussed above, Dong revealed a certain level of English competence through the constant use of English vocabulary. He is the only one among the four participants who

claimed a preference for the language, and did frequently use it during the interview, though we didn’t communicate fully in English.

7.2.2.2 The affiliation towards English language

When Dong started to use English words in the interview, I was a little concerned that he might be doing so in order to cater to my study because he knew that I have been studying in the UK and this research focuses partly on different language use. So I probed into the reason for his love for English. During the discussion, he suggested that he developed an interest in the English language at a young age because his parents started his English enlightenment by sending him to various language training classes.

[Dong] Excerpt 5

[00:04:49]L: Why are you particularly interested in English?

[00:04:53]D: Because my parents instilled the idea in me when I was young.

[00:04:58]L: Ideas that English is important? So they started to give you English enlightenment when you were young?

[00:05:07]D: Yes, I attended various kinds of English training class. ……

[00:06:01]L: So that’s how you develop an interest in English.

[00:06:05]D: Yeah, it really should start at a young age. The older you get, the harder you will be motivated.

Motivated at a young age, Dong’s affiliation with the English language was

strengthened after attending different summer school programs in the UK and the US. He found himself more confident in speaking English when he was abroad, and his English was greatly improved after the program. So he maintained a passion for learning English, not only in classroom setting, but also in his spare time activities. He mentioned that one of the purposes for watching English movies was to acquire some language use that cannot be learnt in English class, and while watching the movies, he would try to identify the improper translation according to his knowledge accumulated through past experiences.

Dong’s affiliation towards English is revealed through his inclination to speak English during the interview, and his elaboration of English learning experience. By displaying his knowledge about the English language, and an affiliation towards it, Dong

(2003) noted, a second language identity is not only about the mastery of linguistic knowledge, but involves cultural knowledge of a certain language community. So a person can only acquire a second language identity when possessing both the linguistic competence and the cultural capital related to the language community. In Dong’s case, the “gentleness” he associated with British English provides evidence for his personal understanding of the British culture, and at the same time, another

prominent feature of his self-identity.