Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society

This research explores the (inter-) cultural dimension of communicating citizenship in China’s new media environment. It adopts speech codes theory as a theoretical and methodological framework to examine the historically situated and socially constructed meanings of citizenship and the normative co...

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Main Author: Xiong, Bingjuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/56411/
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author Xiong, Bingjuan
author_facet Xiong, Bingjuan
author_sort Xiong, Bingjuan
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description This research explores the (inter-) cultural dimension of communicating citizenship in China’s new media environment. It adopts speech codes theory as a theoretical and methodological framework to examine the historically situated and socially constructed meanings of citizenship and the normative communicative conduct for practicing “good citizenship” in China. Through a systematic analysis of Chinese online discourse surrounding two social events, this study captures one speech code pertaining to communicating citizenship that is premised on a paradox–citizenship is interpreted by the Chinese as a legal entitlement that they deserve, but it is simultaneously treated as an aspirational and unattainable ideal. Additionally, speaking sensibly and morally with a communal orientation is heavily emphasized in this speech code as it is considered a valuable communicative practice for performing “good citizenship.” Finally, participating in online collective actions such as “topping posts” is rendered an acceptable and effective way to communicate and enact citizen rights in China.
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spelling nottingham-564112020-08-27T04:30:12Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/56411/ Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society Xiong, Bingjuan This research explores the (inter-) cultural dimension of communicating citizenship in China’s new media environment. It adopts speech codes theory as a theoretical and methodological framework to examine the historically situated and socially constructed meanings of citizenship and the normative communicative conduct for practicing “good citizenship” in China. Through a systematic analysis of Chinese online discourse surrounding two social events, this study captures one speech code pertaining to communicating citizenship that is premised on a paradox–citizenship is interpreted by the Chinese as a legal entitlement that they deserve, but it is simultaneously treated as an aspirational and unattainable ideal. Additionally, speaking sensibly and morally with a communal orientation is heavily emphasized in this speech code as it is considered a valuable communicative practice for performing “good citizenship.” Finally, participating in online collective actions such as “topping posts” is rendered an acceptable and effective way to communicate and enact citizen rights in China. 2019-02-27 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/56411/1/_system_append%20proof_Xiong_2019.pdf Xiong, Bingjuan (2019) Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 12 (2). pp. 128-145. ISSN 1751-3057 Citizenship speech codes online discourse Chinese Internet http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2019.1582791 doi:10.1080/17513057.2019.1582791 doi:10.1080/17513057.2019.1582791
spellingShingle Citizenship
speech codes
online discourse
Chinese Internet
Xiong, Bingjuan
Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society
title Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society
title_full Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society
title_fullStr Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society
title_full_unstemmed Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society
title_short Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society
title_sort communicating citizenship in china’s digital society
topic Citizenship
speech codes
online discourse
Chinese Internet
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/56411/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/56411/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/56411/