中美电视谈话节目权势关系的比较分析-a comparative analysis of the power relations between chinese and american tv talk shows.docxVIP

iii iii How are the power relations between hosts and guests from the perspective of interruptions and overlaps by comparing Chinese and American TV talk shows? Are there differences between hosts and guests in terms of raising questions by making a comparison between Chinese and American TV talk shows? Then following conclusions are drawn after detailed analysis: Both Chinese and American show hosts can fulfill their duty as main organizers and topic controllers of the programs by exerting more power over their guests in initiating turns and terminating turns. The hosts can adopt various ways to avoid guests’ deviation from the topic under discussion. On the contrary, the show guests mostly stand in the subordinate and passive position and act as the focus and story-teller of the show, therefore, the power those guests enjoy is within a certain limit. Comparatively speaking, American TV host tends to have relatively more power than his Chinese counterpart by using more ways of interruptions and overlaps during communication. American guests also present their more active involvement in the discussion and more power than their Chinese counterparts in the way of conducting more interruptions. As a result, power relations are dynamic and cannot be absolutely held by one party--the show host in TV talk shows. Based on the analysis of questions raised by both hosts and guests in the course of communication, the study finds that two show hosts put forward more standard questions on the whole so as to help control the flow of the program. It is also revealed in the study that American guests tend to be more active in bringing up questions and their positive participation makes it possible for the program to go ahead. This study aims to figure out similarities and differences between the two talk show programs and help to push the improvement of Chinese TV talk shows. Key words: discourse analysis; power; Chinese and American TV talk shows Chapter Chapter One Introductio