State monolingualism and its emotional impacts on multilingual identity construction: insights from the Turkish context

Abstract

This descriptive single case study examines how monolingual language policies in Türkiye affect individuals’ emotional and cognitive development and their multilingual identities. Drawing on an in-depth linguistic life story interview with an ethnically Kurdish woman, the study employs the concept of perezhivanie to explore the connection between personal emotional experiences and identity formation in a context dominated by a single national language. The thematic analysis reveals the challenges of adapting to a Turkish linguistic environment, the emotional toll of marginalization, and the transformative experiences that lead to linguistic empowerment. Findings highlight tensions between the participant’s ethnolinguistic heritage and the official national identity and underscore experiences of linguistic discrimination, acculturation, and eventual professional validation. These insights emphasize the need for more inclusive language policies in Türkiye and contribute to a deeper understanding of how emotionally charged linguistic experiences shape multilingual identity construction.

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