面子理论视角下的总统竞选肢体语言研究-基于特朗普和希拉里总统辩论视频分析_英语论文

A Study Of Body Language From The Perspective Of Face Theory In Presidential Campaign:Based On Video Analysis Of Donald Trump And Hilary Clinton’S Presidential Debates

摘要

体态语是语言学的重要分支，在日常交流中应用广泛、作用显著。当语言和体态语结合在一起应用时，体态语能协助语言来更好地表达说话人的真实感受，更清晰地展现说话人的真实意图。“面子”作为一个普遍存在的概念，在正式或非正式场合中均起到重要作用。因此，对面子理论视角下的肢体语言进行研究具有很强的指导意义。本研究基于2016年美国总统大选电视辩论，在一定程度上对辩手具有指导意义。

本研究对三场电视辩论进行了分析，电视辩论视频记录的是竞选双方最真实的反应，以及他们如何运用一系列技巧来挽回自己的面子、威胁对手的面子。

本研究采取定量分析方法来研究视频数据。作者首先总结出竞选双方面部表情和姿势的分布情况，接着通过分析和对比双方数据总结出辩论中肢体语言的特点并进一步列出这些肢体语言在挽回自身面子、威胁对手面子上的作用。

本研究得出以下发现。首先，通过对视频的详细分析，作者列出竞选双方面部表情和姿势的分布情况。第二，研究发现，2016年总统大选电视辩论中竞选双方的肢体语言具有独立意义、语篇结合意义，与个人习惯特点以及环境因素相关。第三，结合语篇，作者发现总统大选电视辩论中的某些肢体语言具有重复、加强、补充、替换语言的作用，可以挽回自身面子、威胁对手的面子。

关键词：肢体语言；面子理论；总统大选电视辩论；挽回面子；威胁面子

Abstract

Body language has a wide application in and strong implication on everyday communication. Body language can facilitate verbal language to express the speakers’ true feelings and to demonstrate their real intentions more clearly. “mianzi”, a concept that exists in all cultures, also plays a pivotal part in communication, both formal and informal. Thus, it is of great guiding significance to study body language from the perspective of face theory. 

This study analyzes the three 2016 American presidential election television debates. The recorded video will display the participants’ direct reactions, which clearly demonstrate their true feelings and their techniques to save their own face and to threaten their opponent’s face. 

This study adopts the quantitative method to examine the video data. The author first gives out the distribution of facial expressions and body gestures, two of the most predominant components of body language. Then upon analyzing and comparing the statistics, the author summarizes some of the major characteristics of the body language in the debate, and further lists the functions of these body languages in terms of face-saving and face-threatening.

Following findings are presented in the study. First, the distribution of facial expressions and body gestures of the two candidates are figured out through careful analysis of the video data. Second, it is found out that the body language in the 2016 American presidential election television debates has independent meanings, context-dependent meanings, personal characteristics, environmental implications. Third, after relating the context, the author finds that certain body language in the debate has the function of repeating, reinforcing, supplementing and replacing verbal language, both for saving face and for threatening face.

Key words: body language; face theory; presidential election television debate; face-saving; face-threatening

Contents

Acknowledgements 4

Abstract 5

摘要 7

Chapter 1 Introduction 10

1.1 General Objectives of Research 10

1.2 Organization of Paper 10

Chapter 2  Literature Review 11

Chapter 3  Theoretical Framework and Research Method 12

3.1 Theoretical framework 12

3.2 Research method 13

3.3 Data resources 13

Chapter 4 Analysis of Body Language in Trump and Hilary's Presidential Debates from the Perspective of Face Theory 13

4.1 Distribution of body language in presidential debate 13

4.1.1 Distribution of Facial Expressions in Presidential Debate 14

4.1.2 Distribution of Body gestures in Presidential Debate 16

4.2 Characteristics of body language in presidential debates 17

4.2.1 Body language with independent meanings 17

4.2.2 Body language with context-dependent meanings 18

4.2.3 Body language with personal characteristics 19

4.2.4 Body language with environmental implications 21

4.3 Body language in presidential debate for face-saving 23

4.3.1 Function of repetition 23

4.3.2 Function of reinforcement 24

4.3.3 Function of supplement 25

4.3.4 Function of replacement 26

4.4 Body language in presidential debate for face-threatening 27

4.4.1 Function of repetition 27

4.4.2 Function of reinforcement 28

4.4.3 Function of supplement 29

4.4.4 Function of replacement 30

Chapter 5 Conclusion 30

5.1 Major findings 30

5.2 Limitations and suggestions 31

5.2.1 Limitations of this study 31

5.2.2 Suggestions for future studies 31

References 32