A discourse theory of ethnic identity

Don Ellis

pp. 25-44

in: Richard Mole (ed), Discursive constructions of identity in European politics, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2007

Abstract

Language and communication are intimately tied to the ethnic structure of any society. When members of minority and majority groups speak, their language represents a taken-for-granted expression of knowledge and forms of interaction. All groups have characteristic patterns of communication that they use with members of the in-group and with members of the out-group, which can be understood only within the wider historical and cultural context of their respective societies. When interacting with out-groups, members of the in-group fashion discourses that reflect a degree of adaptation of their communication patterns, which is sometimes successful but often results in misunderstanding, conflict and prejudices. Although the problems caused by ethnic discourse throughout the world have their unique features and take on different emphases and expressions, the theoretical issues presented below can be seen as universal and thus useful for organising knowledge about ethnic discourse.