ABSTRACT
Language is one of the ways in which we order the world around us. It is also central to how we create and reinforce our view of ourselves and others. This chapter looks at the ways in which identity is created and reflected through language use and how we can use language to highlight or downplay certain aspects of identity. We look at how setting and relationships can influence how we use language to show our identity. We then closely examine identity creation and reception, style and language variation. We also discuss to what extent individuals act as agents, or wilful actors in the world, in determining their personal and group representations.
