Open AccessA Study on the Discourse Construction of WeChat Salesmen’s Personal Identities: Based on Data from the Moments of WeChat
Author(s) -
Fan Hong-ya,
Hengping Cao
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
world journal of social science research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2375-9747
pISSN - 2332-5534
DOI - 10.22158/wjssr.v4n4p307
Subject(s) - construct (python library) , competitor analysis , rhetorical question , identity (music) , product (mathematics) , set (abstract data type) , discourse analysis , sociology , computer science , psychology , linguistics , business , mathematics , aesthetics , marketing , art , philosophy , geometry , programming language
The analysis in this paper examines how the salesmen construct their identities through the Chinese messaging app WeChat by applying Karen Tracy’s identity theory. Using a data set consisting of 17 WeChat salesmen’s discursive practices posted in the Moments of WeChat, the analysis found out 6 types of identities constructed, which are as salesmen, product users, competitors, evaluators, friends and organizers. Both rhetorical and cultural perspectives are adopted in analyzing how these identities are constructed.