This study focuses on the intersection between human agency and social control in the social sciences, highlighting the relevance of understanding how individuals act deliberately within the social fabric, even in restrictive contexts. It proposes a methodology that prioritizes the interpretation of individuals' self-definition and their relationship with society, aiming to enrich the social sciences. The importance of focusing on individual experience and the processes of constituting individuality for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of identity differentiation in contexts of power inequality is emphasized.

Based on a case study centered on the appropriation of the Portuguese language by two immigrant subjects in Coimbra, this analysis suggests the importance of focusing on personal identity and the lived reality of individuals for qualitative and emic social analyses. Through ethnographic research guided by a contextual approach, it is observed that "speaking Portuguese" represents a strategic exercise in identity construction, seeking social recognition in various spheres of sociability, such as in kinship, labor, and friendship networks.

Migrants use the Portuguese language, along with the legitimizing identity it conveys, to dissolve categories and circumvent identities assigned to them, reconstructing a social identity and expressing their multiple identity affiliations. This illustrates how the Portuguese language acts as a tool to reconfigure identities amid processes of integration and discrimination. The conclusion highlights the importance of understanding how subjects constitute themselves as agents amid social dynamics, aiming for individual emancipation and understanding the complexities of social and identity interactions.

Moreover, the study underscores the dynamic nature of identity and the continuous negotiation involved in the process of self-definition. It sheds light on the strategies employed by individuals to navigate and resist social constraints, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability inherent in human agency. This approach not only enriches the field of social sciences but also provides a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between individual agency and structural forces, contributing to more effective policies and practices in multicultural and migratory contexts.