On The Changes Of Relationship Between Power And Solidarity In Chinese Communication

Language is a social phenomenon not only reflecting the social development, butalso affected by society. It plays an important role in social life. Sociolinguistics is astudy of languages in relation to society and a field of study that assumes the humansociety relates to linguistic patterns and behavior. People of different social classes,who differ in social status, education, profession, age, gender and nationality usevarieties of language. Sociolinguists regard speech between the speaker and theaddressee as the mark of their social relationship. The relationship between power andsolidarity in speech is a common phenomenon in different cultures; however, peoplein different cultures or societies express their social relationship in a unique way.Chinese people follow the principle of "respecting others and lowering oneself"in theprocess of communication, so we can say in China language greatly reflects the markof "power".With the development of society the relationship between power and solidaritychanges gradually. The proportion of power decreases while the proportion ofsolidarity increases. This thesis expounds the changes of relationship between powerand solidarity in Chinese communication and its reasons for these changes.The relationship between power and solidarity is not invariable but changes withtimes and the context. Therefore, this thesis expounds the evolution of the relationshipbetween power and solidarity in diachronic and synchronic perspectives. Thealteration of social and political situation has changed the relationship between powerand solidarity in speech. These changes have influenced the Chinese traditionalculture. The reasons for these changes are analyzed from political and cultural aspects.Through the study on these changes, we conclude that power is decreasing andsolidarity is increasing with the development of the society and the frequentintercultural communications. The research on the changes of the relationshipbetween power and solidarity will offer some advice on future communication.