Language and Identity

Books

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (2019) describes in-depth the facade of the US as a land “discovered” and focuses on Indigenous genocide, colonialism, and how Native Americans have resisted US imperialism over centuries. Scholars find the examples of in-depth stories of Native youth being punished for speaking their language in boarding schools valuable knowledge. Scholars are able to conceptualize how language was lost, revitalization is suffering, and language continues to diminish.

Decolonizing Methodologies

Tuhiwai Smith (2012) describes how imperialism is embedded in knowledge and argues that decolonization of research methods will help reclaim control over Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Scholars found this book helpful when understanding the cultural and social benefits of promoting a student's Native language at home and at school. It was also valuable in reinforcing the importance of language in a student’s identity.

Handbook of Racial-Cultural Psychology and Counseling, Chapter 17: An Inquiry into the Measurement of Ethnic and Racial Identity

Trimble (2004) discusses the complexity of racial and ethnic identity. He explains that human beings have multiple identities that are intertwined and influence one another in ways that are not understood. The identities that human beings identify with can be influenced by the person’s lifeways or thoughtways. Trimble also discusses social and psychological theories and perspectives that reflect against the ethnic and racial identification events that occur in an individual's life. Greeley (1974) as cited in this chapter explains how ethnic minorities (American Indians, African Americans, Chinese American, Puerto Ricans etc) are differentiated from dominant society and from one another (Navajo Nation, Little Italy, Chinatown). Trimble then provides different assessments and measures that are used with diverse ethnic and racial populations.