A Study On The Construction Of Gender Identity By Language Based On Communities Of Practice Theory

Previous studies on gender identity construction primarily focused on static description on gender identity,paying little attention to dynamic construction of it in specific contexts.In view of this situation,the author of this thesis conducted an investigation centered on following three questions: how gender identity is dynamically constructed in social communication;why gender identity needs to be constructed;what constructive effects will be received in this process.Based on previous studies,taking Communities of Practice as theoretical basis,the author of this thesis selected conversations between the same gender and cross gender of the 1stand 8th season in diverse contexts of American sitcom Modern Family as data source,for the reason that it portrays the real-life situation of American people and more importantly,its protagonists out of certain communicative intention,dynamically construct their gender identity through language,which makes it possible for the performing of this research.Employing qualitative and quantitative research method,after analyzing typical conversations of ten protagonists,the author basically answered the questions raised earlier: Firstly,protagonists in Modern Family by means of four language forms,namely pronunciation,vocabulary,syntax and pragmatics dynamically constructed three gender identities,respectively same-gender identity,cross-gender identity and gay-gender identity.Secondly,owing to ten communicative intentions,consisting of drawing attention,changing images,showing oneself,conciliating conflicts,gaining support and approval,getting opportunity,expressing politeness,winning sympathy and promoting conversation,protagonists dynamically constructed their gender identity in moment-to-moment communication.Thirdly,gender construction promoted gender equality and fostered mutual understanding between men and women.Causes and effects of gender construction and language use were explored in this thesis.Compared with previous studies in this field,this research contributed to a little bit to the dynamic construction of gender identity by language.