Polyphonic identity or the aporia of being

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of the concept of identity from a historical-semantic and sociocognitive standpoint. The author begins with a diachronic review in the Corpus Diacrónico del Español (CORDE) to trace the shift from meanings of “equality” to modern uses related to social belonging, subjectivity, and ideology. Methodologically, it combines discourse analysis—particularly Teun van Dijk’s theories on social and personal identity—with a literary study of Élmer Mendoza’s novel Efecto Tequila (2004). Through a structural and sociocognitive reading of the protagonist’s monologue, the study identifies a form of “polyphonic identity” that mirrors the fragmented nature of contemporary subjectivity. The analysis reveals how discursive structures embody the dissolution of coherent social consciousness, replaced by overlapping media and cultural voices. Its scope contributes to understanding emerging forms of selfhood in the global era and how recent Mexican literature portrays a postmodern identity crisis.