The Digital Sojourners A Study On New Media Usage And Cultural Identity Of Chinese In Germany

The new media technologies with the characteristics of digital, network, mobility and low entry barrier are rewriting the whole world’s information transfer in shape, pattern, structure and rules. Information and communication technology and the popularity of portable computers has changed the old modes of transmission, along with a variety of communication subject, complex spreading content, diverse forms of communication as well as high openness of communication channels. These are formed an unprecedented complex information environment. From the point of media use in micro-level, new media represent with computer and Internet not only inherites the main features of the traditional mass media, but also has the features of immediacy and interactivity of interpersonal communication. Further more, with the Internet’s unique compatible and non-border resistance, new media replaces the traditional mass media gradually, become the most frequently used media tool in modern society. It meets the needs of people in many aspects of media consumption, such as information, social entertainment, commerce and trade. Besides, it subverts the old way of living, communication, work, study, shopping and other old habits imperceptibly and gradually.In this paper, the core research question is:how the Chinese sojourners living in Germany use the new media in the digital age? And how the usage of new media affects their specific cultural adjustment process, constraction and maintenance of cultural identity and social networks? By focusing on the group of Chinese sojourners in Germany and using the filed research methode, the paper turely represent the way of new media use in this specific group under the background of globalization and digitalization. Combined with Chinese sojourners’intercultural expectations, needs and strategies, the author rethinks and redefines the impact of new media technology applications for the sojourner’s cultural identity management and cultural negotiation process, so the paper can provide a reference case for the research of cross-cultural sojourners under the conditions of globalization and the digitalization.The statement of "Chinese sojourner in Germany" contains three meanings. First, the research objects must live in Germany. Second, the adjective "Chinese" refers that the research objects still have Chinese nationality. Third, the sojourner identity defines the objetcts being researched are different from immigrants and refugees, their legal statuses are short-term residence. This group has specific goals and plans of return to homeland and lives currently in foreign country. In research methods, this study used a hybrid research path, including literature review, questionanaires, in-depth interviews and participant observation etc. from the two dimensions of "point" and "level" to gather research materials.The full text is divided into five chapters. The first chapter "Introduction" describes the background and purpose of this research in the beginning, and then expands the concepts and theory reviews of the four key concepts, highlighting the development and change of concepts in the longitudinal dimension, as well as the challenges faced by the new media era. The second chapter is "research design", which detailed explains the specific framework of the study, further focuses and classifacates the research objects, describes the main reasons of chosen the verification research method, as well as questionanaires design and the eight hypotheses. Based on these informations, the chapter3introduces the specific implementation process of the study, including distribution and recovery of the questionnaire, qualitative material collection and analysis. Starting with the point of "the landscape of media usage of Chinese sojourner in Germany", the allocation of Chinese living in Germany will be shown through descriptive analysis of demographic variables, and the8hypotheses are also examed and explained. The chapter4"research findings" bases on the categorization of interview notes and describes the whole situation of the behavior, habit, attitude of how the Chinese sojourner in Germany use new media. Chapter5"conclusion" discusses the "research findings" mentioned above from the theoretical point of view; summaries three "grounded theory" based on the raw data:1. New media is an important component of life for the Chinese sojourners living in Germany, orientates their self-identity and social relationship constructions. The digital imprint of sojourners has become more and more obvious.2. Chinese sojourners in Germany in the digital age have more peaceful and tolerant attitude toward cultural differences. They certainty, emphasize cultural differences, and are even proud of differences. They also show a significant transnationalism tendency in new media choosing and value judgment.3. Getting actual "dual-identity (nationality)", the Chinese sojourners can shuttle freely between home country and guest country, enjoy the freedom of active space, cultural awareness and "transnational living" as a sojourner.