Forms of address and community identity

The main focus of this section is the concept of identity. Taking different methodological approaches, the authors show how various aspects of the speakers’ identity as well as personal relationships are indexed through the use of pronominal forms of address. As Raymond (this volume) stresses, the way we refer to each other is “one of the primary means through which we (re-)create and (re-)establish our respective identities”, how we wish to be seen by others and how we openly categorize others in relation to ourselves, as equals, subordinates or superiors, in whatever category we focus on at the moment of talking. In what follows, I will first summarize some key points of the respective papers before setting them into perspective with each other.