Cultural Identity Negotiation And Cultural Conflicts In Zadie Smith’s White Teeth

This thesis studies Zadie Smith’ rebut White Teeth from an intercultural communication perspective,mainly focusing on immigrants’ cultural identity,including their class and religious identity.By drawing upon Ting-Toomey’s Identity Negotiation Theory and Moon’s Passing concept,this thesis aims to explore individuals’ different identification to class and religion and their specific negotiation strategies.The author argues that identity negotiation is a reflection of immigrants’ intercultural adaptation process.In terms of class identities,these immigrants apply three different passing strategies: playing the middle-class game,performing subordinate identities ascribed by the middle class,and shifting cultural groups temporarily or permanently.However,their outcomes are also influenced by their intercultural competence and gender identity.Religion,as an important mark of immigrants’ communities,also plays a significant role in their adaptation to the host country.It is not only an important part of immigrants’ cultural baggage,but is also functional in their adaptation to the host nation.Individuals redefine their religious identities based on their current needs and form different religious perceptions.The sharp differences in cultural identity negotiation deprive immigrants’ sense of belonging within a family and enlarge their mental and physical distance.Due to the cultural identity differences and the lack of efficient communication,their domestic conflicts escalate gradually.The author points out that only through efficient communication can immigrants enhance mutual understandings and strengthen their family bonds.The significance of this thesis lies in that it pays more attention to individuals’ intercultural practices,which helps to enrich characters in the story.In addition,primary studies mainly treat immigrants’ identification in international contexts while neglecting other specific venues like inter-class or inter-religion disposition and identification.This research may make a contribution to filling in the blank.What’s more,the combination of literary and intercultural communication studies also offers a case for further intercultural literature studies.