Research utilizing the sociocultural linguistic approach has shown that identities are discursively produced through linguistic interaction (Bucholtz and Hall 2005). The current study uses data from ethnographic interviews and interactions to investigate the identity formation of Korean college students concerning the English language. The analysis reveals three complementary discursive practices used by Korean college students to disclaim their rights to the English language: 1) treating American English as the norm, 2) authenticating the Native Speaker (NS), and 3) labelling specific types of Korean peers as having the “American illness.” Even though these students were considered proficient English language learners they viewed themselves as incompetent by constantly comparing themselves with the NS construct. The findings showed overlapping and sometimes contradictory relations including similarity and difference, authority and illegitimacy and complex views on rights and authentication regarding the English language in contemporary Korea. The study may contribute to our understanding of the complex relationship between language, identity and ownership
Research utilizing the sociocultural linguistic approach has shown that identities are discursively produced through linguistic interaction (Bucholtz and Hall 2005). The current study uses data from ethnographic interviews and interactions to investigate the identity formation of Korean college students concerning the English language. The analysis reveals three complementary discursive practices used by Korean college students to disclaim their rights to the English language: 1) treating American English as the norm, 2) authenticating the Native Speaker (NS), and 3) labelling specific types of Korean peers as having the “American illness.” Even though these students were considered proficient English language learners they viewed themselves as incompetent by constantly comparing themselves with the NS construct. The findings showed overlapping and sometimes contradictory relations including similarity and difference, authority and illegitimacy and complex views on rights and authentication regarding the English language in contemporary Korea. The study may contribute to our understanding of the complex relationship between language, identity and ownership
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