Let Me Respectfully Offer You a Drink: A Chinese Ritual of Social Relationship

• In Event: Behind the Scenes: Methods and Approaches to Intercultural Communication

Abstract

Based on data collected through participant observation, this study examines alcohol drinking as culturally situated communicative practices in China. Through describing group-oriented drinking patterns using Hymes’ (1972) SPEAKING framework, it shows that alcohol drinking allows Chinese participants to fulfill their relational and practical needs through ritualistic drinking sequences at meal gatherings. The study points to the importance of examining the interconnection between health hazardous communicative practices and culture. Areas of research are suggested.

Author

• Yanrong (Yvonne) Chang, Univ of Texas, Pan American