In:Analysing Chinese Language and Discourse across Layers and Genres
Edited by Wei Wang
[Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse 13] 2020
► pp. 147–166
Chapter 8Representations of Pinkunsheng in China’s university
media
Published online: 28 August 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/scld.13.08che
https://doi.org/10.1075/scld.13.08che
Abstract
This paper aims to examine the representations of
Pinkunsheng or Jingjikunnan xuesheng
(hereafter Pinkunsheng) (i.e. low-income college students) in
China through examining campus newspapers (Xiaobao), which
constitute the major print medium at universities. Given that the admission rate
of Pinkunsheng in agricultural, forestry and normal universities
is relatively higher than other universities, three Xiaobao (i.e.
中国农大校报 (Xiaobao of China Agricultural University),
南京林业大学报 (Xiaobao of Nanjing Forestry
University) and 北京师范大学校报 (Xiaobao of Beijing
Normal University)) were identified as data sources. Drawing on the
theory of identity centrality (Rosenberg
1979) and taking a sociocultural linguistic approach to identity
(Bucholtz and Hall 2004, 2005, 2008), this paper finds that different relations of identity are employed in
diverse types of text to represent disparate identity dimensions of
Pinkunsheng. Information reports tend to highlight their
powerlessness in economic terms, whereas campus-based recounts and narratives
foreground their high motivation, their goal-oriented psychological strength and
their academic endeavour. This study sets out to make a contribution to current
research on the media representations of Pinkunsheng in China,
thereby providing insights into the discourses of low-income college students in
contemporary China.
Keywords: Pinkunsheng, campus newspapers (Xiaobao), representation, identity
Article outline
- Introduction
- Pinkunsheng and Xiaobao
- Pinkunsheng
- Xiaobao
- Theoretical foundations and framework
- Identity centrality and a sociocultural linguistic approach to
identity
- Identity centrality
- A sociocultural linguistic approach to identity
- Genres and text types
- Theoretical framework
- Identity centrality and a sociocultural linguistic approach to
identity
- Data analysis
- Identity: The one-dimension perspective
- Identity: The two-dimension perspective
- Identity: The three-dimension perspective
- Discussion and conclusion
Notes References
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