A Discourse Analysis of Zuckerberg’s Pragmatic Identities’ Construction based on Adaptation Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10612Keywords:
pragmatic identities; Adaptation Theory; intertextuality; graduation speechAbstract
People construct different pragmatic identities in everyday talk and the process of building identities usually adapts to the context. To be specific, entrepreneurs represents himself and the company when uttering to the outside society and the construction of entrepreneur’s identity is related to the company’s image. They are inclined to use intertextuality resources to build connection with the potential audience. Therefore, in this research, the author analyzed an entrepreneur’s speech discourse to describe what pragmatic identities are constructed and how does the construction adapt to the speaking context. To answer these questions, the author conducted a discourse analysis to illustrate relationship between the language use and physical, social and mental world based on Adaptation Theory. The results presented that the entrepreneur builds various master identities, interpersonal identities, and personal identities with intertextuality language resources to adjust to the speaking context. This study suggested that entrepreneurs are supposed to improve the skill of manipulating their discourse strategies to build close connection with potential listener.
References
Chen, X. (2013). Yu yong shen fen: dong tai xuan ze yu hu yu jian gou [Dynamic selection and discourse construction]. Wai yu yan jiu, 04, 27-32+112.
Chen, X. (2014). Yu yong xue shi jiao xia de shen fen yan jiu——guan jian wen ti yu zhu yao lu jing [The study of identity from the perspective of pragmatics -- key issues and main approaches]. Xian dai han yu, 37(05), 702-710+731.
Clarke, J., & Holt, R. (2017). Imagery of ad-venture: Understanding entrepreneurial identity through metaphor and drawing. Journal of Business Venturing, 32(5), 476–497.
Down, S., & Reveley, J. (2004). Generational encounters and the social formation of entrepreneurial identity: ‘Young guns’ and ‘old farts’. Organization, 11, 233–250.
Fairhurst, G. & Ul-Bien, M. (2012). Organizational discourse analysis (ODA): examining leadership as a relational process. Leadership Quarterly, 23, 1043–1062.
Gao, Y. & He, X. & Li, L. (2011). Min ying qi ye jia she hui shen fen, jing ji tiao jian yu qi ye ci shan juan ceng. [Social status, economic conditions and charitable donations of private entrepreneurs]. Jing ji yan jiu, 46(12), 111-123.
He, L. (2018) Da xue bi ye dian li yan jiang Zhong ying han yu fa yin yu de bi jiao yan jiu [A comparative study of English and Chinese grammatical metaphors in university commencement speeches]. Hunan shi fan da xue.
He, Z. (2007). Yu yong san lun [Three theories of pragmatics]. Shang hai jiao yu chu ban she.
Kristeva, J. (1980). Desire in language : a semiotic approach to literature and art (I. loan donator (ed.)). New York : Columbia University Press.
Li, H. & Yang, S. (2011). Zhong mei da xue bi ye dian li yan jiang ci zhong ren ji yi yi de wen hua jie du [Cultural interpretation of interpersonal meaning in commencement speeches of Chinese and American universities]. Sichuan jiao yu xue yuan xue bao, 27(06), 75-78.
Li, J. (2016). Yu yong shen fen shi jiao xia de bo shi lun wen zhi xie yu yan jiu [Research on acknowledgements in doctoral thesis from the perspective of pragmatic identity]. Wai yu yan jiu, 33(02), 33-38.
Li, N. & Jing, X. (2019). Xue shu hu dong zhong da bian ren de yu yong shen fen gou jian [The construction of the respondent's pragmatic identity in academic interaction]. Zhejing wai guo yu xue yuan xue bao, 01, 41-47.
Liang, Hong. (2019). Bi ye dian li yan jiang yu pian de ren ji gong neng fen xi——yi xi la li ke lin dun ye lu da xue yan jiang wei li [Interpersonal Function analysis of commencement Speeches -- A Case study of Hillary Clinton's Yale Speech]. Hai wai ying yu, 08, 121-122.
Newbery, R., Lean, J., Moizer, J., & Haddoud, M. (2018). Entrepreneurial identity formation during the initial entrepreneurial experience: The influence of simulation feedback and existing identity. Journal of Business Research, 85, 51–59.
Ren, Y. (2016). Xue shu hui hua Zhong ren cheng dai ci shen fen jian gou gong neng yan jiu [Research on the construction function of personal pronoun identity in academic conversation]. Wai yu yan jiu, 33(02), 23-28.
Sun, L. (2015) Zhong guo shuo shi xue wei lun wen ying wen zhai yao de yu yong shen fen jia gou yan jiu. [A study on the construction of pragmatic identity in the English abstract of Chinese master's thesis]. Wai yu yu wai yu jiao xue, 05, 15-21.
Tracy, K., & Macdonald, S. (2004). Everyday talk: building and reflecting identities. Canadian Journal of Communication, 29(3/4), 438–440.
Verschueren, J. (1999). Understanding pragmatics. London : Hodder Headline Group.
Wang, X. (2019). Shang ye guang gao yu pian zhong de shen fen jian gou bian qian: li shi yu yong xue shi jiao [The transformation of identity construction in commercial advertising texts: from the perspective of historical social pragmatics]. Dang Dai Wai Yu Yan Jiu, 09, 39-43+64+77.
Xu, M. & Chen, X. (2015). Ke tang yu jing xia da xue ying yu jiao shi de shen fen jian gou ji shun ying xing [The identity construction and adaptability of college English teachers in classroom context]. Wai Yu Jiao Xue, 36(03), 50-54.
Yan, Z., & Chen, X. (2013). Yu yan shun ying lun shi jiao xia de yu yong shen fen jian gou yan jiu [A study on pragmatic identity construction from the perspective of linguistic adaptation theory]. Wai yu jiao xue yu yan jiu, 45(04), 518-530+640.
Yang, S. (2018) Zhong mei da xue bi ye dian li yan jiang yu pian zhong gai nian yin yu dui bi yan jiu [A comparative study of conceptual metaphor in commencement speeches of Chinese and American universities]. Hua bei dian li da xue.
Yuan, Z., & Fang Z. (2008). Yan yu jiao ji zhong de shen fen jian gou ji qi li ju yan jiu [Research on identity construction and its motivation in verbal communication]. Nanjing you dian da xue xue bao, 03, 56-59+63.
Yuan, Z. (2011) Shun ying lun shi jiao xia yi yao zi xun gu wen yu yong shen fen jian gou de shi zheng yan jiu [An empirical study on the pragmatic identity construction of medical consultants from the perspective of adaptation theory]. Nanjing da xue.
Zhang, Q. (2018). Bi ye dian li yan jiang yu pian de ren ji gong neng fen xi——yi zha ke bo ge ha fo da xue yan jiang wei li [Interpersonal function analysis of commencement Speech: A case study of Zuckerberg's speech at Harvard University]. Ke jiao wen hui, 01, 171-174.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Yuxin Li
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors wishing to include figures, tables, or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) for both the print and online format and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.
