Unpacking cultural conceptualizations in Chinese English

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhichang Xu ◽  
Farzad Sharifian
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Chinese Speakers ◽  
Cultural Schema ◽  
Considerable Depth ◽  
Cultural Linguistics ◽  
Theoretical Developments

Abstract Considerable depth and breadth of research on Chinese English has been undertaken over the last three to four decades, contributing to the epistemological advancement of a number of academic disciplines, including world Englishes, Intercultural Communication, and Cultural Linguistics. Researching Chinese English involves engaging in ongoing theoretical developments in relevant disciplines that primarily focus on language and cultural studies, and the globalization and nativization of English in China. In this paper, we explore a Cultural Linguistics approach to researching Chinese English, and use cultural conceptualizations, including cultural schema, cultural category, and cultural metaphor, as the analytical framework with which to analyze a range of empirical linguistic data, including interviews, newspaper articles, textbooks, literary works by authors writing in Chinese English, and online media articles about China. We also draw out implications from researching Chinese cultural conceptualizations for intercultural communication involving Chinese speakers of English.

Perception of (im)politeness and the underlying cultural conceptualisations

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzad Sharifian ◽  
Tahmineh Tayebi
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Heterogeneous Distribution ◽  
Cultural Schemas ◽  
Layered Approach ◽  
Cultural Schema ◽  
The Many ◽  
Cultural Linguistics

Abstract The present study sets out to investigate the role of ‘culture’ as one of the many important factors that influence the evaluation of (im)politeness in Persian from a Cultural Linguistics perspective. The paper argues that Cultural Linguistics, and in particular the notion of cultural schema, has the potential to offer a robust analytical framework for the exploration of (im)polite use of language. We elaborate on this proposal by presenting examples of data from Persian in which speakers interpret impolite behaviour in light of a number of Persian cultural schemas. The study also offers a novel three-layered approach for the analysis of (im)politeness data that combines metadiscourse analysis with the ethnography of cultural conceptualisations, while highlighting the importance of the notion of ‘heterogeneous distribution’ of cultural conceptualisations, a pivotal theoretical concept in Cultural Linguistics which accounts for the variations in speakers’ evaluation of (im)politeness.

scholarly journals A multi-dimensional contrastive study of English abstracts by native and non-native writers

Corpora ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Cao ◽  
Richard Xiao
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
English Abstract ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Contrastive Study ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Communicative Functions

This article takes the multi-dimensional (MD) analysis approach to explore the textual variations between native and non-native English abstracts on the basis of a balanced corpus containing English abstracts written by native English and native Chinese writers from twelve academic disciplines. A total of 47 out of 163 linguistic features are retained after factor analysis, which underlies a seven-dimension framework representing seven communicative functions. The results show that the two types of abstracts demonstrate significant differences in five out of the seven dimensions. To be more specific, native English writers display a more active involvement and commitment in presenting their ideas than Chinese writers. They also use intensifying devices more frequently. In contrast, Chinese writers show stronger preferences for conceptual elaboration, passives and abstract noun phrases no matter whether the two types of data are examined as a whole or whether variations across disciplines are taken into account. The results are discussed in relation to the possible reasons and suggestions for English abstract writing in China. Methodologically, this study innovatively expands on Biber's (1988) MD analytical framework by integrating colligation in addition to grammatical and semantic features.

Chinese Netizens’ reactions to the use of English as a lingua franca

English Today ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-12
Author(s):  
Weihong Wang ◽  
Fan (Gabriel) Fang
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Linguistic Capital ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Global English ◽  
Local Varieties ◽  
British English ◽  
Linguistic Imperialism ◽  
The World

With the spread of English around the globe, academics increasingly seek to figure out what global English means to the world. Some accept English globalisation as a reality and take it as natural, neutral and beneficial for international and intercultural communication (Crystal, 2003). Some recognise English skills as important linguistic capital and must-have global literacy (Park & Wee, 2012; Tsui & Tollefson, 2007). However, others associate the global expansion of English with linguistic imperialism and the death of indigenous languages (Phillipson, 2009). Some regard globally spread English as native English varieties, particularly American and British English (Modiano, 2001; Trudgill, 1999), others argue for the rise of local varieties of World Englishes (WE) (Bolton, 2005; Kachru, 1986) and the international use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) (Jenkins, 2007; Seidlhofer, 2011). Although these generic interpretations of English have solid arguments from their own perspectives, none is sufficient to elucidate all the ‘complexity of ideological ramifications of the spread of English in [any] particular locality’ (Pan, 2011: 79).

scholarly journals Is science communication its own field?

2010 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. C04 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toss Gascoigne ◽  
Donghong Cheng ◽  
Michel Claessens ◽  
Jennifer Metcalfe ◽  
Bernard Schiele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Sociology Of Science ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Common View ◽  
The Status ◽  
Disciplinary Field ◽  
History Of

The present comment examines to what extent science communication has attained the status of an academic discipline and a distinct research field, as opposed to the common view that science communication is merely a sub-discipline of media studies, sociology of science or history of science. Against this background, the authors of this comment chart the progress science communication has made as an emerging subject over the last 50 years in terms of a number of measures. Although discussions are still ongoing about the elements that must be present to constitute a legitimate disciplinary field, we show here that science communication meets four key elements that constitute an analytical framework to classify academic disciplines: the presence of a community; a history of inquiry; a mode of inquiry that defines how data is collected; and the existence of a communications network.

scholarly journals Kiasu

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Ebensgaard Jensen
Keyword(s):  
World Englishes ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Cultural Schema ◽  
Set Up

This paper presents a study of grammatical usage patterns of the word kiasu in the GloWbE corpus of World Englishes. Kiasu has been borrowed from Hokkien into Singaporean and Malaysian English as a linguistic ‘glocalization’ process enabling speakers to verbalize an important local cultural schema. A grammatical profile is set up that draws on the techniques from linguistic profiling. This study identifies a range of patterns that illustrate how the interaction between grammar and lexis amount to specific semantic construals of the underlying cultural schema of the word.

Mak nyahs and the dismantling of dehumanisation: Framing empowerment strategies of Malaysian male-to-female transsexuals in the 2000s

Sexualities ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 114-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph N Goh ◽  
Thaatchaayini Kananatu
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Communication Networks ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Reparative Therapy ◽  
Legal Cases ◽  
Collective Action Frames ◽  
Personal Stories ◽  
International Recognition ◽  
Male To Female

The unrelenting ill-treatment suffered by mak nyahs, or Malaysian pre-operative and post-operative male-to-female transsexuals, indicates a steady process of dehumanisation that besieges mak nyahs in contemporary Malaysia. Nevertheless, the 2000s have seen a groundswell of strategies by mak nyahs to dismantle forces that seek to dehumanise them, and thus to embrace self-empowerment. By analysing online media resources, information from communication networks and legal cases pertaining to mak nyahs, we aim to explain the ways in which the strategies of mak nyahs and their allies to dismantle dehumanisation and empower themselves are framed and mobilised in Malaysia in the 2000s. To this end, we draw on a two-fold analytical framework that comprises David A Snow’s and Robert D Benford’s notion of collective action frames, and Michael W McCann’s legal mobilisation theory, in order to interpret our analysis. We argue that although mak nyahs have encountered dehumanising forces such as violence, pathologisation and reparative therapy, religious denunciations and moral policing, they have responded with diverse empowerment strategies that include the telling of personal stories, increasing public visibility, eliciting international recognition and support, forming alliances and organising collective action and legal recourse.

Cultural conceptualizations of gender and homosexuality in BrE, IndE, and NigE

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Finzel ◽  
Hans-Georg Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Indian English ◽  
Local Varieties ◽  
Conceptual Metaphors ◽  
British English ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
The World ◽  
Cultural Linguistics

Abstract With the spread of English in many parts of the world, numerous local varieties have emerged, shaped by the sociocultural contexts in which they are embedded. Hence, although English is a unifying element, these varieties express different conceptualizations that are deeply rooted in culture. For the most part, these conceptualizations come in the form of conceptual metaphors, which not only influence our perception of the world (Lakoff & Johnson 1980), but also reveal cultural specifics of a particular society. One of the latest approaches in the field of conceptual metaphor research suggests that conceptual metaphors are actually multimodal, i.e., that they are expressed not only in language, but also, e.g., in gestures, facial expressions, sounds or images (Forceville 2009). Films are an ideal source of data for such multimodal metaphors. In the form of a pilot study, this paper applies this novel approach to metaphor to the field of World Englishes. While adding to the range of research that has already used the methodological toolbox of Cognitive Linguistics or its cognate discipline Cultural Linguistics in the investigation of the cultural dimension of varieties of English (e.g., Kövecses 1995; Liu 2002; Malcolm & Rochecouste 2000; Sharifian 2006; Wolf 2001; Wolf & Polzenhagen 2009), we provide a new exploratory angle to that investigation by using cinematic material for the analysis. Specifically, this study focuses on conceptualizations pertaining to the target domains woman and homosexuality. The data we have selected are from Great Britain, India and Nigeria, because these countries have important film industries, and British English, Indian English and Nigerian English constitute culturally distinct varieties.

Idioms in intercultural communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-62
Author(s):  
Karsten Senkbeil
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Figurative Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Laboratory Setting ◽  
Native Languages ◽  
Pragmatic Aspects ◽  
Linguistic Approaches ◽  
Empirical Approaches ◽  
Cultural Linguistics

Abstract This paper combines central ideas from Intercultural Pragmatics and Cultural Linguistics to rethink an issue that has been amply discussed in various branches of linguistics: idioms, ‘phrasemes,’ and other forms of fixed-form figurative language, when used in intercultural communication (ICC). It argues that an interaction-oriented approach needs to think beyond the description and mapping of idioms in different languages and cultures, and apply both pragmatic and cognitive linguistic approaches to explain if and how idiomatic language works (or does not work) in ICC. Methodologically, this paper relies on a combination of empirical approaches. A data-inductive analysis of authentic intercultural discourse involving native speakers of German, Afrikaans, and Zulu, who use English as a lingua franca in a project management setting provides interesting real-life examples of the pragmatic aspects of idiomatic language in authentic ICC. The results of this pragmalinguistic analysis have inspired and are accompanied by a deductive-experimental study, using questionnaires for speakers of various native languages (Arabic, German, Russian, Spanish, Turkish), testing the cross-linguistic communicability of English idioms in a ‘laboratory setting.’ These experiments show that an appreciation of both the embodied and empractic-interactional dimensions of idioms promises insights into how figurative language and fixed-form expressions are used successfully or unsuccessfully in ICC and why.

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