THE QUESTION AND THE SIGN

In relation to the writing of identity there are any number of questionnaires, application forms, CV’s etc. in which people are asked to present their own personal identity. They are asked to list name, age, gender, physical characteristics (disabilities or abilities) hobbies, various employments, addresses and any number of others bits of personal information. Whether the answers are sufficient to give a full depiction of the person concerned is another matter, however, they do delineate some aspects of the individuals identity and become part of that person’s written identity.

There are numerous factors which the reader of these questionnaires may view as going beyond the mere personal and provide an insight into the writers sense of self and sense of her/his position within a group or community; whether the writer has a concept of her/his identity, or even developed a concept of identity.

Does the writer present as an isolated, singular, individual, or does s/he present as a member of a group or community? Does the writer convey any sense of social identity quite distinct from group or community? Do the answers to questions on race and religion provide a sense of the writer’s own view of their attachment to race, religion or political affiliation? Do the answers convey any sense of history or concern for any particular ‘society’?

There is an idea of linguistic anthropology at work here. Rather than an examination of artefacts to answer the question ‘What do these things tell us about these people?’, it is ‘What does this writing tell us about this person?’ or indeed ‘What does this writing tell us about these people?’

So I ask whether an examination of more impersonal symbols, or signs, of identity is likely to provide answers to ‘What does this writing tell us about people”