Journal Entry #11

[bethany marcelle]

Identity can be very closely tied with language. I speak English and have an identity as an American citizen. Additionally, I speak quickly like a New Yorker. I throw in random Southern Italian slang that my immigrant family uses like "metz a metz" when I'm feeling so so or not so great. I started going to Latin America regularly to do humanitarian work alongside my pastor dad and counselor mom since I was in 7th grade. I grew to love Spanish and I'd use Spangalish with my English speaking friends, wear brightly colored bracelets, and bags from South America. My identity is tied to my language and my language to my identity in a chicken egg way. What comes first? Was I always the fast talking, sassy, New York-Italian-American type girl? or did that come from the language that I spoke? Did learning Spanish add to my identity or did if confirm a affinity for Latin American culture that was naturally there? Personally, I think that my language learning has impacted my identity or at least my superficial identity. I talk with my hands, like reggatone, want to live in Guatemala and Italy, enjoy spicy, jungle grown chiltepe peppers and salsa dance (poorly;) because of the culture of language that I was brought up in. However, I think that deeper identity is not effected by language. My love of people, my love of working with children, most importantly my love of Jesus and His good news for people, is not in anyway effected by language learning or changes in my superficial identity. I believe that if one has a higher identity, an overarching belonging that is stronger and more important than words or cultures then language acquisition may change pieces of the superficial identity but not the deeper person.