"I Want to Full My Tank": An Autoethnographic Reflection on the Use of Language and the Identity at Risk. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merlino, Aldo
• Is Part Of: Cultural studies, critical methodologies. Volume 15:Number 2(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: autoethnography -- methodologies -- narrative -- methods of inquiry -- performance ethnography -- ethnographies -- methodologies; Culture -- Research -- Periodicals; Popular culture -- Research -- Periodicals; 306.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1532708614565452
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-7086

Abstract

In this autoethnographical essay, I focus on the difficulties related to improper use of a second language. I show how such misuse contributes to the attribution of personality qualities to the speaker and, consequently, how the identity of the speaker gets lost and replaced by a new (acoustic) identity. Such acoustic identity is given by pragmatic failures that emerge when people speak a second language.