Identity display and transformation: A socio-cultural analysis of Suyin Han’s autobiography, A Many-Splendoured Thing Shujing Qiao A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Sydney School of Education and Social Work Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences The University of Sydney 2020 i Statement of Originality This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge, the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purposes. I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources have been acknowledged. ii Abstract This thesis is a qualitative study of Suyin Han’s identity display, transformation and negotiation as shown in her autobiography A Many-Splendoured Thing (Han, 1952). Informed broadly by a sociocultural perspective, the study examines three research questions: (1) What are the different layers of Han’s identity exhibited in this writing and how is each unfolded in her writing? (2) What are the factors that help contribute/ or not to the display and transformation of Han’s complex identity? (3) How is the complexity of her identity displayed in the process of Han’s writing of her autobiography? To address these research questions, mixed methods are used to analyse Han’s writing of her autobiography including narrative analysis (De Fina, Schiffrin & Bamberg, 2006) and critical discourse analysis (Blommaert & Bulcaen, 2000). Data are categorized according to four different facets of identity emerging in her writing: Han’s ethnic identity (more of one’s cultural heritage related to their ancestry); her racial identity (more of one’s appearance differing from people of other races); her cultural identity and her professional identity. A five-principle framework (Bucholtz & Hall, 2005) is employed to interpret Han’s different identity facets: Identity is an emergent product in language interactions; an individual’s identity positioning is realized by socially positioning both themselves and others in varied contexts; identity is an indexical process in which it is linked with specific linguistic forms; identity is an intersubjective phenomenon depending on social relations with others; identity is a partial account that is in part a purposeful self-performance and in part an unaware self-disclosure. This study is different from the prior studies of Suyin Han, and it is a detailed identity analysis of multiple identities of Han as unfolded in her autobiography. The findings provide a set of empirical evidence highlighting the dynamics and their interplay in the complex process of identity transformation and display related to the specific social and iii cultural circumstances. The study also broadens the applicability of the sociocultural five-principle framework in analysing one person’s multiple identity layers revealed in a time continuum as set out in an autobiography. Prior to bringing together the arguments by way of drawing conclusions, limitations to the interpretation of the conclusions because of the methodology of the study are also identified. iv Acknowledgements During these years of my doctoral candidature, I must admit that I was not a very good scholar. I sincerely thank my supervisor, Prof. Huizhong Shen, who supported me in both my study and life in Sydney. Prof. Shen has been so patient with me in helping me to build the conceptualization of my thesis, encouraging me at each stage, and discussing with me the final revisions. Moreover, from the beginning of my study, I had a long period of non-adaptation locally, during which Prof. Shen cared for me whenever I suffered from physical illness and emotional anxiety. Without Shen, I don’t think I would have survived and reached this stage of my study. I was so lucky to marry in Sydney, especially as, after my marriage I made much greater progress with my thesis. I am so grateful to my husband, Shichang Wen, for all his love and support. Feeling safe has helped me focus on my thesis writing as I am no longer thinking much about other trivial matters. During these years I have met a lot of sensational companions. I heartily thank Dr. Chen Chen, Dr. Tiefu Zhang, Dr. Xiangyi Tao, Dr. Wenchao Tu, Chuan Gao, Yijun Zhou, who are always by my side when I need them. Their friendship always warm me, and their academic attitudes set a standard for me. I also give my deep gratitude to Suyin Han, who wrote the autobiography A Many- Splendoured Thing (Han, 1952), the research text of my thesis. As a researcher and a fan of Han, I know unfortunately I will never have chance to meet her in person, but her insightful observation of China in the past century shed lights on my understanding of my country. Similarly as a transnational individual, by positioning Han, I also learn to how to position myself. v Of course, thousands of thanks to my parents who have been standing with me, forever. I hope I have not let you down. Special thanks to my proof-reader, Dr. Libby Limbrick. During the unprecedented time when she was doing the proofreading of my thesis, we reminded each other “stay healthy, stay safe” every time we emailed each other. I am so moved by her beautiful language, rigorous scholarship and tenderness. She is not just an excellent proof-reader, but also a very warm friend. Last but not least, thanks to all scholars who inspired my current study. Thank you for your work, which I have used for my references. It was not possible for me to fulfil my study without your studies. vi Table of contents Statement of Originality ....................................................................................................................ii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... v Table of contents .............................................................................................................................vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research purpose ................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Research questions .............................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Conceptualization of the study ............................................................................................ 4 1.5 Significance of the study ..................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Organization of the thesis .................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2 Literature review .............................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Research on the identities of diaspora individuals and groups.......................................... 10 2.1.1 Second language learning and multilingual experience on identity ....................... 10 2.1.2 Individual’s heritage language experiences and their identity ............................... 13 2.1.3 Language ideologies and individual’s identity orientation ..................................... 17 2.1.4 Individual’s unique language features and their identity ........................................ 25 2.1.5 Mixed social and cultural factors and individual’s identity.................................... 30 2.2 Research on the identities of non-diaspora individuals and groups .................................. 35 2.2.1 The impact of language policies on individual’s identity ....................................... 36 2.2.2 The interplay between language learning and individual’s identity development.. 38 2.2.3 Specific identity facet development related to unique contexts or personal specifics ......................................................................................................................................... 39 2.2.4 The relationships between language features and identity ..................................... 52 2.3 Summary of the chapter .................................................................................................... 56 Chapter 3 The sociocultural theoretical framework ........................................................................ 58 3.1 Identity as a socially and culturally situated product ........................................................ 58 3.2 The five-principle framework as the theoretical framework and the analytical tool ......... 62 3.2.1 The emergence principle ........................................................................................ 62 3.2.2 The positionality principle ..................................................................................... 63 3.2.3 The indexicality principle ....................................................................................... 64 3.2.4 The