Language, Identity, and Power in Social Interaction

Abstract

Language is not merely a neutral medium of communication; it is a powerful social instrument through which identities are constructed, negotiated, and contested. In everyday interactions, institutional settings, and mediated environments, language plays a central role in shaping social hierarchies and power relations. This article examines the interconnections between language, identity, and power in social interaction from an interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities perspective, drawing on sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, cultural studies, and social theory. It explores how linguistic practices reflect and reproduce power structures while also providing spaces for resistance and identity re-articulation. Through theoretical discussion and illustrative examples, the article demonstrates how language functions both as a mechanism of social control and as a resource for empowerment in diverse sociocultural contexts.