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Language, Irony, and Resistance - Internet spoofing in China today

Tardell, Miriam LU (2012) KINK11 20121
Chinese Studies
Abstract
This essay investigates the background as well as the present and potential functions of egao, Chinese Internet spoofing. It focuses on the forms egao assumes in writing and analyzes how its practice of playing with and inventing words influences the Chinese society. Discussing the emergence of new expressions in text-based egao, this essay concludes that this kind of spoofing pushes the boundaries of accepted language but should be seen as an indicator rather than a cause of political change, as it takes advantage of the relative freedom of speech provided by the Internet while remaining at least partially tolerated by the government. The main impact exercised by egao is that its ridiculing of official phrases forces the authorities to... (More)
This essay investigates the background as well as the present and potential functions of egao, Chinese Internet spoofing. It focuses on the forms egao assumes in writing and analyzes how its practice of playing with and inventing words influences the Chinese society. Discussing the emergence of new expressions in text-based egao, this essay concludes that this kind of spoofing pushes the boundaries of accepted language but should be seen as an indicator rather than a cause of political change, as it takes advantage of the relative freedom of speech provided by the Internet while remaining at least partially tolerated by the government. The main impact exercised by egao is that its ridiculing of official phrases forces the authorities to change their language. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Uppsatsen undersöker hur nya ord och uttryck uppkommer i kinesiska Internetskämt, egao, samt vilka funktioner den här typen av skämt fyller i dagens Kina. Uppsatsen behandlar främst skriftliga former av egao (såsom ordlekar, dikter och påhittade ord och tecken) och försöker ta reda på hur dessa påverkar det kinesiska samhället och vilka funktioner de kan tänkas fylla. Slutsatserna blir att även om egao tänjer på gränserna för accepterat språk bör det betraktas som en indikator på snarare än som en orsak till politisk förändring, då fenomenet utnyttjar den relativa yttrandefrihet som Internet erbjuder samt åtminstone delvis tolereras av regeringen. Dock kan det viktigaste inflytandet som egao utövar sägas vara att fenomenet genom att driva... (More)
Uppsatsen undersöker hur nya ord och uttryck uppkommer i kinesiska Internetskämt, egao, samt vilka funktioner den här typen av skämt fyller i dagens Kina. Uppsatsen behandlar främst skriftliga former av egao (såsom ordlekar, dikter och påhittade ord och tecken) och försöker ta reda på hur dessa påverkar det kinesiska samhället och vilka funktioner de kan tänkas fylla. Slutsatserna blir att även om egao tänjer på gränserna för accepterat språk bör det betraktas som en indikator på snarare än som en orsak till politisk förändring, då fenomenet utnyttjar den relativa yttrandefrihet som Internet erbjuder samt åtminstone delvis tolereras av regeringen. Dock kan det viktigaste inflytandet som egao utövar sägas vara att fenomenet genom att driva med de officiella fraserna tvingar myndigheterna att förändra sitt språk. (Less)
Abstract (Chinese)
论文介绍了社会现象“恶搞”，讨论了它的来源与相关背景，明确了它主要的社会与政治功能。恶搞作为民间语言挑战官方语言的力量是巨大的。
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Tardell, Miriam LU
supervisor
organization
course
KINK11 20121
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
language
English
id
2760215
date added to LUP
2012-06-14 13:14:37
date last changed
2012-06-14 13:14:37
@misc{2760215,
  abstract     = {{This essay investigates the background as well as the present and potential functions of egao, Chinese Internet spoofing. It focuses on the forms egao assumes in writing and analyzes how its practice of playing with and inventing words influences the Chinese society. Discussing the emergence of new expressions in text-based egao, this essay concludes that this kind of spoofing pushes the boundaries of accepted language but should be seen as an indicator rather than a cause of political change, as it takes advantage of the relative freedom of speech provided by the Internet while remaining at least partially tolerated by the government. The main impact exercised by egao is that its ridiculing of official phrases forces the authorities to change their language.}},
  author       = {{Tardell, Miriam}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Language, Irony, and Resistance - Internet spoofing in China today}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}