Discursive Construction of Bicultural Identity: A Cross-Generational Sociolinguistic Study on Oromo-Americans in Minnesota

ISBN-13: 9783631673126 / Angielski / Twarda / 2016 / 233 str.

Oromiya-Jalata Deffa

Opis

The author examines the cultural identity development of Oromo-Americans in Minnesota, an ethnic group originally located within the national borders of Ethiopia. Earlier studies on language and cultural identity have shown that the degree of ethnic orientation of minorities commonly decreases from generation to generation. Yet oppression and a visible minority status were identified as factors delaying the process of de-ethnicization. Given that Oromos fled persecution in Ethiopia and are confronted with the ramifications of a visible minority status in the U.S., it can be expected that they have retained strong ties to their ethnic culture. This study, however, came to a more complex and theory-building result.

Spis treści

Contents: Cultural identity development of ethnic minorities in a Western diaspora - Oromo-Americans - Language and cultural identity - Social constructionism - Cognitive Sociolinguistics - Pronoun distribution - Pronoun analysis - Conceptual metaphor and metonymy - Tactics of intersubjectivity.

O autorze

Oromiya-Jalata Deffa studied English and American studies with a focus on sociolinguistics at the University of Potsdam. Her research interest is the discursive construction of social identity and she has taught a wide range of sociolinguistic seminars.