Faithful imitator, legitimate speaker, playful creator and dialogical communicator: shift in English learners' identity prototypes

Abstract

This paper attempts to conceptualize identity prototypes regarding model L2 learners/users of English over the past 50 years, as embedded in research discourses. For a long time, the ideal learner was a faithful imitator whose L2 use and cultural conduct were strictly modeled on the native speaker (NS). With postcolonial changes around the world, a legitimate speaker was born, claiming equal language standards and rights with NSs. Growing under the increased influence of globalization and postmodernism is a playful creator, who constructs unconventional hybrid language use for distinct self-expression. A Bakhtinian dialogical communicator is also emerging, who converses on the basis of respect and reflection. These prototypes are discussed with their respective characteristics, L2 research discourse, contexts, and constraints.