This thesis investigates semantic and pragmatic aspects of identity markers in contemporary English. In the first part, it overviews some current definitions and understandings of identity, theories of meaning with a focus on conceptual theories of meaning, and categorisation as an innate function of the mind which is expressed in language. The first, theoretical part is predominantly semantics-oriented, whereas the second includes semantic and pragmatic considerations. The second part includes a categorisation of identity markers according to the pragmatic viewpoint. The pragmatic viewpoint is to be understood in the sense of practical and meant to display all the different areas of human experience that are expressed through language as names for aspects of identity. They are put into four groups which may overlap in some instances. People are identified by proper names, physical and non-physical conditions, beliefs, and kin and other inter-personal relations. The chapter on pragmatic considerations of identity markers then explores how their use may be manipulated and interpreted in discourse, through intentions of causing offence and shame, giving praise, speaking figuratively, relying on stereotypes, etc. It also looks at how markers are expressed syntactically and orthographically.
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