Dramaturgical Analysis of Smiles in Intercultural Communication Between Korean Students and Native English Speakers

Abstract

abstract: This study analyzes the use of a smile exposed by those who speak English as a second language when they communicate with native English speakers. Based on Erving Goffman's dramaturgy perspective, this study specifically investigates communication between Korean students at three U.S. universities and native English speakers. Based on interviews with 48 Korean students, this study reveals the underlying structure of their impression management, which articulated the use of smiling in intercultural communication. The discussion includes theoretical analyses of the smiles displayed by second-language users, along with the implications of smiles that can be interpreted differently in different situations. This study will contribute not only to studies dealing with intercultural communication among people with different native languages but also to the theoretical expansion of dramaturgy to the intercultural and international communication context.