Profile
Zhengpeng Luo is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Hong Kong (HKU). With a primary research interest on the intersection of language, health, and digital communication, Zhengpeng uses interactional sociolinguistics and discourse analysis to investigate communicative practices across diverse healthcare settings in China.
Educational Experience
2015–2019 The University of Hong Kong, PhD in Sociolinguistics
Work Experience
09/2020 – Assistant Professor, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University
Research Interests
Sociolinguistics; Discourse Analysis; Language and Health
Teaching Courses
Undergraduate courses
Academic English Writing
Critical Thinking and Academic Writing
Postgraduate courses
Sociolinguistics
Empirical Research Methods in Language Studies
Academic Reading and Appraisal II
Selected Publications
Monograph
Luo, Z. (2026). Genetic Literacy in Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: A Discursive Approach to Public Engagement with Genetic Science. London & New York: Routledge.
Book chapter
Luo, Z., & Zayts-Spence, O. (2023). The discursive construction and negotiation of genetic knowledge in an online health forum in Mainland China. In O. Zayts-Spence & S. Bridges (Eds.), Language, Health and Culture: Problematizing the Centers and Peripheries of Healthcare Communication Research (pp. 138-153). London: Routledge.
Journal articles
1. Luo, Z., & Zayts-Spence, O. (2024). “Doing genetic literacy”: A discourse-oriented approach to literacy in genetic contexts. New Genetics and Society, 43(1), Article e2435832, 1-22.
2. Liao, C., & Luo, Z.* (2024). Creative appropriation of offline linguistic landscapes on Chinese social media: The case of playful mockery of universities on Sina Weibo. Social Semiotics, 1-28.
3. Liu, X., & Luo, Z.* (2024). Communicating male sexual dysfunction: The medicalization and psychologization of sexual experiences in Chinese online medical consultations. Social Science & Medicine, 350, Article 116927, 1-11.
4. Liu C., Luo, Z.*, Gao, Y. (2024). 生前预嘱推广演讲中的死亡话语素养实践——讲者叙事定位与听众反馈 (Death discourse literacy practice in living will promotion speeches: Speakers’ narrative positioning and audience feedback). 《华人生死学》 (Chinese Life and Death Studies), (2), 23-35.
5. Luo, Z., & Gao, Y. (2023). 走向死亡话语素养 (Towards death discourse literacy). 《医学与哲学》 (Medicine & Philosophy), 44(8), 19-23.
6. Wang, S., & Luo, Z.* (2023) “Wish everyone safe and sound”: Ambient affiliation in online comments on medical consultation videos on Bilibili.com. Discourse, Context & Media, 54, Article 100714.
7. Luo, Z.*, & Li, T. (2022). 癌症患者在网络互助小组中的期望话语表达 (Cancer patients’ discursive construction of hope in an online support group). 《华人生死学》 (Chinese Life and Death Studies), (1), 90-101.
8. Luo, Z.*, Zayts, O., & Shipman, H. (2020). “His story is truly vivid…”: The role of narratives of vicarious experience in commodification and marketisation of genetic testing in Chinese social media. Journal of Pragmatics, 155, 111-122. (SSCI)
9. Zayts, O., & Luo, Z. (2017). Commodification and marketisation of genetic testing through online direct-to-consumer platforms in Hong Kong. Discourse & Communication, 11(6), 630-647. (SSCI)
10. Luo, Z. (2015). 高考英语改革背景下中国网民的英语语言态度 (Chinese netizens’ English language attitudes in the context of College Entrance Examination reform). 天津外国语大学学报 (Journal of Tianjin Foreign Studies University), 22(6), 57-63.
Research Projects
1. A discourse analytic study of online medical consultations. The National Social Science Fund of China (Grant No. 22CYY014). RMB 200 000. Principal Investigator. 09/2022 –
2. Death discourses in contemporary China. The National Social Science Fund of China (Grant No. 19AYY001). RMB 350 000. Co-investigator. 09/2019 – 03/2025.
3. A discursive approach to genetic literacy. The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Peking University (Grant No. 7100604126). RMB 200 000. Principal Investigator. 04/2021 – 12/2023.
4. A narrative study of oncology patients from the perspective of digital health humanities. Digital Humanities Special Project, Peking University (Grant No. 7101303353). RMB 70 000. Co-Principal Investigator. 07/2023 – 07/2024
5. Working together across Arts, Medicine and Education: Enhancing genetic literacy in genetic counselling consultations. Interdisciplinary Knowledge Exchange Project Fund (project KE-ID2015/16-4), University Grants Committee, Hong Kong. HKD 100 000. Team Member. 09/2016 – 08/2018.
Social Affiliations
2023 – Board Member, Sociolinguistics Division of the Chinese Association of Linguistics
2023 – Member, Chinese Life and Death Studies and Education Association
2018 – Member, Research and Impact Initiative on Communication in Healthcare, The University of Hong Kong (HKU RIICH)
Honors and Awards
2024 Kerry Group Kuok Foundation Award for Mentoring Excellence, Peking University
Overseas Experience
Presentations at international conferences
1. Luo, Z. (2024). Literacy mediation in online medical consultation. Paper presented at iMean7 Conference, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
2. Luo, Z. (2018). The emergence of online community of practice among users of direct-to-consumer genetic testing discussion forum in China. Paper presented at the 3rd King’s College London–University of Hong Kong PhD Summer School in Sociolinguistics, King’s College London, UK.
3. Luo, Z., & Zayts, O. (2017). Language and literacy practices in personal genetic testing. Paper presented at the 15th International Pragmatics Conference, Belfast, UK.
4. Luo, Z. (2016). Direct-to-consumer online advertising of genetic testing in Hong Kong: A discourse analytic study of company strategies. Paper presented at the 14th International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Communication, Medicine and Ethics (COMET), Aalborg University, Denmark.
Webtise
