Language Expression Differences in Chinese and Western Media Reports from the Perspective of Post-Colonialism ——Cases Analysis of Beijing Winter Olympics
Abstract
As the world’s largest winter sports event, the Winter Olympics has a growing global influence. At the same time, this event has also attracted widespread attention from all walks of life. News coverage has influenced people’s minds and ideologies to some extent. In particular, the differences between Chinese and Western cultures in the reporting language of the Beijing Winter Olympics have aroused widespread attention and research. Based on different cultures, this article uses postcolonial theory to explore the background and context of the language of the Winter Olympics coverage. From a postcolonial perspective, this article finds the language reported by the British media has obvious characteristics of discourse dominance and monopoly. In their reporting, a significant proportion of concepts with negative orientation are often used, reflecting their cultural superiority and legacy of colonial past. In contrast, Chinese reporting is more adept at using decorative language and emotional color, using rhetoric to highlight the meaning and emotional connotation of events. This reflects the importance that Chinese culture attaches to harmony, politeness and emotional expression, as well as the embodiment of identity Chinese reporting. This paper systematically analyzes the above language differences and puts forward relevant opinions or suggestions to promote cross-cultural communication and integration.
References
- Gamson W A, Croteau D, Hoynes W, et al. (1992) Media images and the social construction of reality. Annual review of sociology, 18(1): 373-393.
- Poorebrahim F, Zarei G. (2013) How is Islam portrayed in western media? A critical discourse analysis perspective. International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Research, 1(2): 57-75.
- Franks S. (2006) The CARMA Report: Western media coverage of humanitarian disasters. The Political Quarterly, 77(2): 281-284.
- Lu X.J. (2013) National Image and Chinese-English translation strategies for China’s global communication. Shanghai International Studies University. PhD dissertation.
- Meng H. L. (2015) The Game of Discourse Power: Foreign media reports of Chinese events and Chinese media’s response. Fudan University, PhD dissertation.
- Guo X.P. (2010) The China’s national environmental image: a case studies of ‘New York Times’ risk reporting on the global climate change. Journalism & Communication. 18.04:18-30+109.
- Shao B, Hui Z.M. (2014) “The “Chinese Dream” in the Perspective of Western Media——A Corpus-Based Analysis of Critical Discourse.” Foreign Languages Research. 06:28-33.
- Gobe, and Wong, Angela. (2015). Comparative analysis of linguistic features of catastrophic news reports in Chinese and American newspapers--Taking China daily and Washington post’s reports on the loss of Malaysia Airlines airliner as an example. Journal of Huaihua College, 34(7), 4.
- Zhang Q.X. (2008) Oriental society in the context of post-colonialism. China Social Science Press.
- Xiang F. (2013). Analyzing the Cultural Differences between Chinese and Western News Communication. Art Technology, 26(6), 1.
- Sheng A.F. (2004). A study of Homi K. Bhabha’s Postcolonial Theories. Beijing Language and Culture University, phD dissertation.
- Huang H, Li Z, Yang. X.H.(2021) Agenda Network Characteristics of Olympic Reports in Western Media and Communication Strategies for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Journal of Shanghai University of Sport. (05),10-20.
- British Broadcasting Corporation. “Winter Olympics: Games officially under way after opening ceremony in Beijing” February 4, 2022. Retrieved on July 25, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/60451409
- British Broadcasting Corporation. “Heavy snowfall in Beijing causes disruption to alpine & freestyle skiing” February 13, 2022. Retrieved on July 25, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/60451409
- British Broadcasting Corporation. “Beijing 2022: Life inside the Winter Olympics bubble” February 3, 2022. Retrieved on July 25, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/60451409
- China Daily. “Thrilling spectacle as Beijing wows the world again” February 5, 2022. Retrieved on August 17, 2023. Retrieved from https://epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/05/WS61fdbf1ba3109375516e98e4.html
- Ming Y. (2020). The Identity of Chinese Women from the Perspective of Postcolonial Literature: A Case Study of Tan Enmei’s Joy Blessing Society. Ginseng flowers: upper (5), 2.
- Liu Y. (2014). Analysis of the development of external communication of mainstream media in China. External communication (3), 3.
- People’s Daily Publishing House, The Grand Opening of the XXIV Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, February 5, 2022, retrieved on August 20, 2023, retrieved from: http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb /html/2022-02/05/content_25901475.htm
- The Washington Post, Opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, February 5, 2022, retrieved on August 20, 2023, retrieved from :http://www.washingtonpost.com/
- Zhang Q. (2007) “Postcolonialism: A Discursive Way to Reflect on Modernity—A Commentary on ‘Postcolonialism’ as a Concept of Historical Periodization.” Philosophical Dynamics 9: 55-60.