A Pragmatic Study On Luck Talk At Traditional Chinese Wedding Ceremony

As the Book of Rites: on Marriage said, marriage that unites two different families is essential for people to revere their ancestors and ensure the continuum of their lineage. Hence, it is widely admitted that marriage has existed since ancient times. Furthermore, nuptial rites underlie all ceremonial rites and regulations. Therefore, the wedding ceremony possesses an important status in Chinese culture. The traditional Chinese wedding ceremony is one of important and essential components in Chinese culture. Over thousands of years, it has formed a perfect system. However, to date the study of Luck Talk occurring at this cultural event is confined to the social and cultural approach and the folklore approach, which mainly explore cultural connotations underlying it. Few studies are made from the perspective of linguistics. In order to enlarge the research scope of linguistics, this research makes a dynamic and comprehensive study focused exclusively on Luck Talk at traditional Chinese wedding ceremony from the perspective of pragmatics with Verschueren's linguistic Adaptation Theory (2000) as the theoretical framework. The main purposes are to find out the root for the emergence of Luck Talk and to provide theoretical basis and practical assistance for the use of Luck Talk.Methodologically speaking, the present study belongs to a qualitative study based on the data collected from speeches naturally occurring at Chinese wedding ceremony or TV series. First, the origin of Luck Talk and definitions of luck in traditional Chinese culture are explained and the definition of Luck Talk at traditional Chinese wedding ceremony is given as well. In addition, in order to have a better understanding of Luck Talk itself, the researcher tentatively categorizes Luck Talk. Finally, how linguistic choices of Luck Talk are made as adaptation to various contextual elements is analyzed in detail.The research findings indicate that linguistic choices of Luck Talk are actually the results as adaptation to social conventions and psychologicalmotivations. In the case of social conventions, linguistic choices of Luck Talk are mainly generated adaptable to social culture. Communicators are those who live in social and cultural environment, so it is inevitable that their ways of behaving and speaking are constrained by social and cultural elements around them. Furthermore, considering the fact that traditional Chinese wedding ceremony is a significant and essential component of Chinese culture and Luck Talk at this cultural event has existed for a long time, Luck Talk is influenced by traditional Chinese culture. Generally speaking, linguistic choices of Luck Talk are made as adaptation to five contextual elements, namely, filial piety, benevolence, harmony, the theory of yin and yang, and traditional Chinese philosophical view on Heaven and Earth. On the other hand, Luck Talk is actually the outcome of linguistic choices adaptable to psychological motivations. Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory (1943), the contextual elements as adaptation to psychological motivations include physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love needs, esteem needs and self-actualization needs.