Navigating Identity. A Study of Native American Politicians’Use of “You” and “We” Pronouns in the US

Abstract

This study examines how Native American politicians in the United States of America construct and share their identities in political discourse, mainly through an analysis of their use of the pronouns "you" and "we". It attempts to clarify how these Native American politicians strategically use language to share their identity. Results show that “we” is used more frequently than “you”. Its use varies depending on political affiliation, with Democrats tending towards inclusive forms and Republicans towards exclusivity or ideological distinction. However, these tendencies are not absolute, reinforcing the claim that identity construction is fluid, strategic, and depends on the context.