THE ROLE OF LANGUAGE IN SOCIAL IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AND GROUP RELATIONSHIPS

Аннотация

This paper explores how language serves as a tool for expressing and constructing social identities, focusing on the use of foreign words, discourse configurations, and social categorization in communication. Drawing from various social and cultural contexts, including the reunification of Germany and immigration in Argentina, the paper investigates how linguistic forms and membership categorization shape social identities. It examines the impact of foreign borrowings (foreignisms), the ways in which group relations are communicated, and the influence of social categorization in the construction of group dynamics. Through an analysis of conversational practices, this study demonstrates that group relationships are not static but are continuously constructed and negotiated through discourse. Additionally, the paper addresses the complexities of how different social groups use language to define boundaries, express solidarity, and assert power, arguing that the structure of group relations is a constant mechanism, while the content varies according to the context and linguistic properties. Keywords: social identity, foreign borrowings, language power, group relationships, social categorization, discourse, membership categorization, solidarity, language in communication.