Prethodno priopćenje
Expressing identity in the speech of twins
Višnja Josipović
Sažetak
This paper is a case study of the speech of a pair of identical twins. It
focuses on the developmental stages in expressing identity of two Croatian-
speaking girls between the ages of 1:8 and 6:6, while briefly commenting on
some other linguistic features such as those of twin language in general.
The twins are identical and yet show subtle or overt language differences:
Nina’s language development shows an earlier start in several features, she
leaves phases more abruptly, while Ema tends to follow her at a somewhat
slower rate. Therefore this paper also supports the idea that social and en-
viromental variables can influence the development of language in twins.
Four stages are identified in the development of verbal identity:
a) the first stage (1:8 – 1:9) in which individual identity is expressed as a
part of the pair identity (Emanina);
b) the nominal stage (1:9 – 1:12), in which the subjects start separating
their own identities from the pair (Ema-and-Nina);
c) the pronominal stage (1:10 ! 2:11), in which the emergence of personal
pronouns linguistically reflects individual identity (Ja ‘I, me’), when Nina
abruptly stopped referring to herself using her own name, while Ema used
a naming system in parallel with the pronoun system for some months;
d) the final stage (3:0 – 6:6) in which individidual, as well as speaker’s
identity is expressed according to the standard norms.
Regarding their identity, clues as to the prevalence of their twin-pair identity
are noticed even in the fourth stage, well after the time when pair-identity
was expressed by a common name. An interesting fact is their dominant
preference for playing the roles of popular pairs, which is the dominant
game they play since 4:0, reflecting the need to play with identity within the
pair (role playing).Their choice of roles follows a clear pattern: the ‘older’
Ema always chooses dominant or more succsesfull roles, while Nina readily
accepts non-dominant or less succsesful roles.
The paper shows that twins express their identity differently than singletons
do. The development of identity and its verbal expressons do not follow the
same pathway all the time, nor do understanding and production. This is
another argument in favour of the claim that the language of twins should
be analysed as a unique entity which could only partially be compared with
the language of singletons.
Ključne riječi
the speech of twins; identity; stages; role; language development in twins
Hrčak ID:
20654
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.11.2007.
Posjeta: 2.710 *