ABSTRACT
The systematic study of identity began in the middle of the 20th century with the seminal work of Erik H. Erikson. Erikson distinguished three layers of identity. Ego identity is at the deepest and most intimate layer. The second layer is personal identity. Personal identity is what one shows to society. The third level of a person's identity is social identity, which consists of the preferences that come from solidarity with the groups to which one belongs. This chapter outlines some prominent theories in each of these three approaches as a panoramic view of the state of the art of identity research. A broad distinction between ego identity, personal identity, role identity and collective identity occurs throughout. Language is a very complex social phenomenon which involves both micro and macro levels, and it has several sub-domains governed by different principles.
