In everyday life, we all play multiple roles and use language differently depending on the situation. But have you ever wondered how our most stable identity (such as gender or ethnicity) influences the way we speak, relate to, and present ourselves to others?
The answer lies in the interplay between master, relational, and interactional identities, a key concept in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis.
What are master identities?
Master identities are those that accompany us over time and are socially visible: gender, ethnicity, nationality, age. Although they are relatively stable, they do not completely determine how we communicate in each moment.
For example, being a woman, being of African descent, or being young can influence how others perceive us or what expectations they have for our language. But that doesn't mean we always express ourselves in the same way. That's where the other layers of identity come in.
What about relational and interactional identities?
• Relational identity: It is built in relationships with other people (daughter, student, friend, colleague).
• Interactional identity: It is activated at specific moments, depending on the communicative context (customer in a store, presenter in a meeting, interviewee on a podcast).
These identities are more flexible and change depending on who we are talking to, where we are, and what our purpose is.
How do they relate?
Example 1: A woman in different contexts
A woman may speak firmly and directly as a manager in a meeting (interactional identity) but use a softer tone with her best friend (relational identity), without her gender identity limiting her communication possibilities.
Example 2: A bilingual speaker
A young Latina may switch between English and Spanish depending on whether she is speaking with her parents (relational identity as a daughter) or in a job interview (interactional identity as a candidate), demonstrating how language also adapts to social context.
Why is this important to understand?
Because it helps us see that communication is not just a matter of "how we speak," but of who we are and who we are talking to.
This knowledge can foster more empathetic, inclusive, and socially diverse communication.
Referencias:
Bucholtz, M., & Hall, K. (2005). Identity and interaction: A sociocultural linguistic approach. Discourse Studies, 7(4–5), 585–614. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461445605054407
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