Shifting Borders: Language and Identity along the U.S-Mexico Border

Abstract

Aimed at drawing to light the dynamic relationships between identity, language, and borders, this investigation first delves into a consideration of language as a tool to combat existential doubt in “Existence to Expression”. Then, in “Language: Elasticity of Roles across History” a holistic modern definition of language is developed. This leads to both a justification of critique and a subsequent reappraisal of certain linguistic theories in order to modify them so as to be appropriate to apply to the context of this paper. Identity is then addressed on an individual level with a consideration of the various racial categories presented in the U.S. Census during the twentieth century. Law, language acquisition, and a discussion on nation-states then readies the paper up for approaching the notion of group identity. Lastly, conclusions are drawn out of explicitly contextualizing the themes explored to the Mexico U.S. border. Analysis is mixed with creative and literary works throughout in order to address, explore, and understand understated themes. [From Introduction]