How vernacular languages create humour on China’s social media: a linguistic and multimodal analysis

• Sandel, Todd L. ^[1] ; Wang, Yusa ^[1] ; Ming, Xiaoyu ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Macau

     University of Macau

     RAE de Macao (China)

     
• Localización: International journal of multilingualism, ISSN 1479-0718, Vol. 22, Nº. 3, 2025, págs. 1520-1539
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/14790718.2024.2379550
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • With the growth of China’s online platforms, increasing attention has been paid to new, online discursive styles and modalities. Such discourses are created using a range of modalities, including text, mixed languages, images, video, memes, and new symbolic forms. Yet what is understudied is the use of vernacular and nonstandard forms of Chinese (including dialects or fangyan); these can be used as a semiotic resource in interaction, such as creating playful content. By conducting a close, linguistic and multimodal analysis of three humorous videos that use a nonstandard vernacular (Yunnan, Changsha, and Dongbei), and the user-generated messages shared on these platforms, this study examines Chinese humour. It finds a universally recognisable script of incongruity and locally situated forms that map onto social and familial themes. Finally, by showing how Chinese people create and enjoy humorous content, this study refutes previous claims that they are not as humorous as non-Chinese people.

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