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How do you see the world? You may see it black in white. Some may see it as a rainbow of colors. How does identity shape how we use language in the world? Your identity, your sense of self, creates who you are in your writing. The stylistic choice of words that are chose is symbolic of your identity. Language is to writing as identity is to you.

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YOUR IDENTITY IS LINKED TO YOUR WRITING. PERIOD.

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YOUR IDENTITY IS LINKED TO YOUR WRITING. PERIOD.

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Writing is something we all do everyday. Whether it's through pen and paper, texting, or even talking on the phone, we are composing thoughts and ideas through language. So how is language linked to identity? How is writing linked to identity?

As Roozen says, "Writing functions as a key form of socialization" (51). Well, what does that mean? In many ways, writing is a way of exposing, or sharing our identities (Roozen 51). The language that we use is important, because it is a representation of who we are. We are our own masterpieces, and that is revealed in everything that we create!

There are various ways of approaching how we read and write. Everyone looks at situations differently. Could you imagine if everyone saw everything the same way? After all, our differences increases our creative resources (Janks 177). Human creativity produces the ability to produce an endless amount of new meanings (Janks 177).

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We come from all walks of life. The histories, the testimonies. Everyone is different, so in essence, that makes you different too. How do you share your story with others? Are you a formal storyteller? Do you share your journey in español, mixing and blending your words? How bout' tellin' folks the struggle is real when you're talking? We're all unique-- the way we use our language. How so? Because it's you. Your language is on fleek!

Your approach to writing is up to you. How will you shape your story? Language is multifaceted (Villanueva 57). Do you switch up your linguistic style in a job interview? How about when you're talking to your boo? No matter the sitch, writing and wordplay is a representation of your identity. You and your writing language, your linguistic identity, all come together, making something lovely and meaningful.

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Some people are haters when it comes to the way you talk. Whatever your voice is, that is your true linguistic identity. When you write, do not be embarrassed or ashamed because it doesn't sound proper. Who cares? It sounds like you! You are the author of your own story. The GOAT Gloria Anazaldúa tells us youngins, "if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language" (39).

Don't let someone try to devalue your intelligence or your identity because of your choice of language. I liked what Vershawn Young said, "don't nobody language, dialect, or style make them 'vulnerable to prejudice'. It's ATTITUDES" (110). Your writing and your language is based off your life and your experiences, not somebody else's. Don't let someone else tell your story, perception is important. The mental impression that you chose to make when you share your language should be valuable to you.

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A young scholar answered the following question fairly well:

"How does your identity shape how you use language?"

"Language without a doubt molds my identity. My identity is a mix of personal values and morals surrounded by my culture. At the same time, my language provides a means to develop and express my culture, which provides a solid framework for my identity."

A lot to take in. Her style of writing and language is pretty formal as you can tell, but she knows that her choice of words is how she has experienced her life--cool, calm, and collected. Or in other words, she takes pride in herself because she takes pride in her identity (Anzaldúa 39).

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It's impressive how naturally language can flow; at least for our young scholar again. This coming from a student who is currently majoring in biochemistry and minoring in business administration, you can say that she held up to a different standard than others, which is totally fine! She continues on as she shares more on language and the living experiences as being a college student:

"In an environment as large and outreaching as my college campus, there is bound to be a mix of languages. people form different mother lands start with their unique languages, but ultimately come together by sharing a common goal: graduating. New languages are formed and are shared by like-minded peers."

Like, come on now. Our young scholar brings up a good point. That point being Critical Language Awareness. Janks tells us, "the difference between discourses is a productive power" (177). A social identity becomes locked in. Your identity becomes locked it. Our bright scholar mentioned that everyone comes from a different mother land, meaning everyone isn't all the same. All students come together by learning everyone else's language, which creates something else. Being open-minded and introducing differences prompts new ways to communicate and get along. Ain't that sweet?

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Our young scholar said, "Ok. My brain's producing fumes right now." Chile, I done already exploded. All you see is a mushroom cloud. The trippy part is, she still had more to say, but she ended with why language is important [to her]:

"The importance of language holds for me is that it allows me to navigate may world as well as expand it. From my language I have been able to understand my own thoughts and convey them to others. I find language to be the key to knowing oneself."

Language comes in many different forms, but in the end, it allows us to grow. In what ways, you may ask? Well, we begin to learn more about people around us and more about ourselves. Our identities shape our language, which in turn, affects our writing. Once you know how you are, you've found your language. And once you've found your language, you've found your voice in your writing. Stories truly reveal a blend of access, diversity, dominance, and design (Janks 183) and that is done through your language-- and others too.

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You're your own person. You know yourself better than anyone else. You mean something to society, whether you know it or not. So don't downplay yourself. You're not average!

Your identity is always changing. So guess what? That means you're changing too! If your language changes, then your writing changes. But this only happens when you change. Don't let fake narratives get in your way of how you see the world. Your opinion is not wrong, and you're not wrong either! Your identity shapes your language, you're in control of your expression; not the other way around. Writing is a cool thing, but the person doing the writing is even cooler. Your language is your writing, and your identity is who you are. Find yourself and believe in yourself. Your linguistic identity is representing you! You are your masterpiece.

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Anzaldúa, Gloria. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue."

Janks, Hilary. "Domination, Access, Diversity, and Design: a synthesis for critical literacy education." Educational Review, vol. 52, no. 2, 2000, pp. 175-183.

Rooze, Kevin. "Writing is Linked to Identity."  Naming What We Know edited by Linda Alder-Kassner and Elizabeth Wardle. Utah State University Press, 2015, pp. 50-52.

Villanueva, Victor. "Writing Provides a Representation of Ideologies and Identities." Naming What We Know edited by Linda Alder-Kassner and Elizabeth Wardle. Utah State University Press, 2015, pp. 57-58.

Young, Ashanti Vershawn. "Should Writers Use They Own English?" Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, 2010, pp. 110-111.