Linguistic intergroup bias in Chinese crime stories: propaganda model vs. commercial model

Abstract

This study aimed to test linguistic intergroup bias (LIB) in the Chinese media. Language abstraction of crime stories was compared between the propaganda model and the commercial model. The results revealed LIB in Chinese language and Chinese journalism. They can be explained by both motivational and cognitive mechanisms in LIB. Moreover, the study explored the impacts of two contextual factors on LIB – time and occupation. The analysis of time illustrated the development trend of Chinese journalism, where the propaganda model has been revealed to be invading and eroding the commercial model. The analysis of occupation indicated the mutual influence between language abstraction and stereotypes, and discussed its impacts over the images of particular social groups as well as the challenges it brought to the state and the Party. This study further explained how and why the journalistic models manipulate language abstraction in order to meet their communication goals as well as the political needs of social power behind them.