‘Identity’ is not only about human relations: the relevance of human-to-non-human interaction in ‘identity’ articulation

Journal article


Kebabi, A. 2023. ‘Identity’ is not only about human relations: the relevance of human-to-non-human interaction in ‘identity’ articulation. Language and Intercultural Communication. pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2023.2252779
AuthorsKebabi, A.
Abstract

This paper concerns the construction of ‘cultural identity’ in the personal everyday lives of a group of high-status professionals living in the UK, who happen to be academics. The paper focuses on the relevance of non-human categories in ‘identity’ construction and advocates for broadening our understanding of this debatable term by acknowledging the relevance of human-to-non-human relations in intercultural communication. The findings demonstrate that non-human categories such as naming, death, and food are central in ‘identity’ construction. This conceptualisation of ‘identity’ broadens our understanding of this highly contested concept and acknowledges the centrality of non-human entities in its manifestation.

KeywordsCultural identity; Human-to-non-human relations; Post-humanism; Intercultural communication; Non-essentialism
Year2023
JournalLanguage and Intercultural Communication
Journal citationpp. 1-14
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis
ISSN1470-8477
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2023.2252779
Official URLhttps://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2023.2252779
Publication dates
Print26 Sep 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted23 Aug 2023
Deposited02 Oct 2023
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
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