To what extent are our selves constructed through language and discourse?

Language is a universal tool, utilised to convey a thought, ideas, emotions and much more. At first glance it may seem apparent that language has great bearing on our construction; we express ourselves through it, it is essential in our thinking and we learn about our social environment through its medium. The degree to which language and discourse is significant in constructing our identities can be debated, however, by comparing this discipline with other, seemingly …

…R Stevens (2005) Sage Publications Rosaldo, M. (1984) p.235 ibid Toates, F. (2001), in "The Embodied Self: a biological perspective" in Understanding The Self edited by R Stevens (2005) Sage Publications Wetherell, M. (2001), "The Distributed Self: a social constructionist perspective" in Understanding The Self edited by R Stevens (2005) Sage Publications http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8123-2089404,00.html Vygotsky, L. in Thomas, K. (1996), "The Defensive Self: a psychodynamic perspective" in Understanding The Self edited by R Stevens (2005) Sage Publications