Debt-Repaying Mechanism in Chinese Relationships: An Exploration of the Folk Concepts of "Pao" and Human Emotional Debt.

TitleDebt-Repaying Mechanism in Chinese Relationships: An Exploration of the Folk Concepts of "Pao" and Human Emotional Debt.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1994
AuthorsChang, Hui-Ching, and Richard G. Holt
JournalResearch on Language and Social Interaction
Volume27
Pagination351 - 87
Date Published1994///
ISBN Number0835-1813
Abstract

Explores the mechanisms of "pao" and human emotional debt underlying Chinese human relationships through interviews with 55 Chinese in Taiwan. The definition, recompensation, minimization, and manipulation of human emotional debt and the linguistic code by which relations can be made closer or more distant following the principles of "pao" are discussed. (27 references) (LR)