Communicating citizenship in China’s digital society

Abstract

This research explores the (inter-) cultural dimension of communicating citizenship in China's new media environment. It adopts speech codes theory (Philipsen et al., 2005) as a theoretical and methodological framework to examine the historically situated and socially constructed meanings of Chinese citizenship and the normative communicative conduct for practicing "good citizenship" in China. Through a systematic analysis of online blog posts and comments surrounding two social events, this study captures one speech code pertaining to communicating citizenship in China that is premised on a paradox-citizenship is interpreted by the Chinese as a legal entitlement that they deserve, but at the same time it is also treated as an aspirational and unattainable ideal. Moreover, speaking sensibly and morally with a public and communal orientation is heavily emphasized in this speech code as it is considered a valuable communicative conduct for practicing "good citizenship" in China. Additionally, participating in online collective actions such as "topping posts" is rendered an acceptable and effective way to communicate and enact citizen rights.