Identity is More Than Just a Language...

Our identity is defined by certain characteristics. These characteristics should not be based only on race, or language, but by diversifying factors. It can be said that our culture, religion, and education, among others, shape us to be unique and distinct in a society. The author Peter Robert, sees it differently, by only focusing on the language. Roberts relates the identity of the Caribbean by only focusing on the chronological order of events that commenced with the colonization.  

First of all, Roberts states that “Language is in part a universal human factor and in part a factor of place: human language manifests itself primarily in speech as distinct languages, each of which geographically determined”. This demonstrates that each person possess an identity based on the language or dialect they have. Nonetheless, there is a large range of factors that prove the diversity of each individual’s identity, not singularly language. Apart from the language, the education of the individual also shapes the identity. Then the question must be asked “why is education considered?”, but the fact consists that the difference is in identifying a language also depend on how a person expresses him/herself. This can result as an obstacle of how to define a person with an identity, but also the difficulty can serve as a tool for progress because a person can fit a role that is required in society and is a compliment to that identity.

It is for this reason that since we are from the Caribbean, we must have our own identity. It starts from our language, and in our case it is Spanish, but when I refer to a change in perspective it is based on how we are seen when we speak English. Peter Roberts establishes”that language bonds between all communities of human beings but at the same time set  up areas between communities…however human beings are not restricted to use a single language and cross barriers.”. This idea can be seen in how in Puerto Rico the society tends to lack knowledge and dominion over the English language and this then turns into a barrier. As Puerto Ricans, we don’t judge how well our command over the language is, but there are their exceptions. Based on our political situation with the US, this has brought up a problem because the feeling of inferiority, out of lack of proficiency cause a confusion of identity. 

On our island, political parties have a big blame for the idea that our identity is to be aligned with the United States’ or it does not at all. Peter Roberts states that our identity is derived from characteristic that each of us possess, as individuals. As individuals, of Latin decent, I personally think that because we are from the Caribbean, it gives us another special distinction, than just being Latin derived citizens. In our case, we talk Spanish, and have traditions during the holidays, such as food, and other aspects that sum up our culture. 

Concluding the language may be one aspect of identity but in the case of a culture or a community as Caribbean, it is not. I know Peter Roberts focuses on the encounters of Caribbean's and the reappearance for the first time and how they were judged mistakenly by them. Nonetheless I may concur with the author that language is a part of identity but I differ because it is more than that. Identity moves as society may be in sports, politics and other kind of events those individuals are not look differently but as a whole. Sharing the same thought with the author that "The naming of identities may therefore be an evolving process...since initial crude generalizations a mistake disappears as foreigners move beyond striking primary features, and come to identify secondary or cultural features." Showing that each and one of us as a country will have our own identity but as individuals of a society in a island as Puerto Rico  and the world we are one and our identity is always changing.