Prof. JIA Mian (賈勉)

JIA Mian James obtained his Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Texas at Austin, after completing his B.A. and M.A. degrees in English and Linguistics at Beihang University. His research explores how subtle linguistic features shape people’s perceptions, intentions, and behaviors in various interpersonal, intercultural, health, and mediated contexts. He uses methods such as experimental design, corpus analysis, content analysis, and computerized text analysis. His research has been published in major international journals such as Applied Linguistics, English Today, Health Communication, Lingua, Pragmatics and Society, and Text & Talk.

Language and Persuasive Health Message Design 

Using discourse-analytic and experimental message design approaches, my first line of research explores the role of language in facilitating effective communication of health information and promoting wellness. My current projects examine the persuasive effects of linguistic and normative message influence strategies on raising people's awareness of health issues in multilingual societies and across different languacultures. Some of the health contexts I have studied include educational fact sheets about antibiotic stewardship, public signs about COVID-19 prevention, and reminders on signing up for HPV vaccination. 

Jia, M. (2022). Toward an integrated understanding of language and health communication: Discourse-analytic and message design approaches. Applied Linguistics, 43(6), 1217–1221. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amac063

Jia, M. & Zhao, Y. (2023). Fear appeals in public signs of COVID-19 prevention in Chinese local communities. Pragmatics and Society, 14(2), 281–305. https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.22009.jia

Jia, M. (2024). Language and cultural norms influence vaccine hesitancy. Nature. 627, 489–489. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00826-x

Language and Interpersonal Communication 

Drawing on insights from linguistic pragmatics and communication studies, my second line of research examines how interlocutors use linguistic (im)politeness and other metadiscourse markers to communicate social support and social influence in various interpersonal and intercultural contexts. My current projects examine how a strategic choice of these subtle linguistic features shapes recipients' attitudes and behaviors in face-to-face and mediated contexts. Some of the face-sensitive contexts I have studied include giving advice, responding to compliments, managing trolling, and performing ritual insults.  

Jia, M. & Yang, G. (2021). Emancipating Chinese (im)politeness research: Looking back and looking forward. Lingua, 251, 103028 [Editors' Choice Article in 2021]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2020.103028

Jia, M. & Yao, S. (2022). ‘Yo I am Superman, You Kiddo Go Home’: Ritual impoliteness in Chinese freestyle rap battles. Text & Talk, 42(5), 691–711. https://doi.org/10.1515/text-2020-0097

PhD Students

I warmly welcome PhD students who are interested in research on linguistic (im)politeness, public health discourse, interpersonal communication, social psychology of language, cross-cultural pragmatics, and/or experimental pragmatics. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to develop a dissertation project on one of these topics. 

Current:

EN2711  Structure of English 

EN3586  Workplace Culture and Interaction

EN3595  English in Society

Previous:

EN3329  Discourse and Pragmatics

EN5461  Language in Its Social Contexts 

China Pragmatics Association

National Communication Association

International Association of Pragmatics

International Communication Association

International Association of Language and Social Psychology (Member of the Executive Committee)