Linguistic Multiplicity as Identity Expression

Sor Juana wrote in Spanish, Nahuatl, Latin, and Portuguese; she employed theological argumentation, poetry, drama, and satire. Her linguistic and stylistic range was not mere versatility but identity expression—a way of inhabiting and claiming multiple cultural worlds simultaneously. This concept recognizes that name and identity across cultures are fundamentally linguistic phenomena. Language is not merely a tool for expressing a fixed identity; it shapes and constitutes identity itself. Those navigating multiple cultural contexts often code-switch, blend languages, and shift registers depending on audience and context. Rather than viewing this as inauthenticity, linguistic multiplicity reveals the reality of cross-cultural identity. Speaking multiple languages, adopting different registers, incorporating varied cultural references—these are not masks hiding a true self but authentic expressions of a culturally-layered self. Sor Juana's polyglot practice offers a model where linguistic range demonstrates intellectual sophistication and cultural richness rather than confusion or divided loyalty.