Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Practical Forms and Cultural Implications of "City 不 (or not) City": A Study on Linguistic Hybridization in Chinese Social Media

Zhenni WangThe University of Leeds*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

In the third quarter of 2024, "city 不 (or not) city", the internet buzzword with linguistic hybridization between Chinese and English, became popular on Chinese social media in a short period, which sparked widespread discussion. According to the research findings of this article, "city 不 city" is often used for the context containing 3 themes, including travel and recording experiences in relation to cities, local food culture as well as leisure time, and local culture about cities. In addition, "city 不city" is often used by users to present positive emotions in the related context and content. This could be driven by the individual's demand for genuine emotional expression or the desire to shape an ideal self-image. In terms of the cultural implications of "city 不city", on the one hand, "city 不city" can participate in the construction of the cultural identity of local cities. On the other hand, the advantages of "city 不city" in shaping shared meanings can help information receivers reduce the possibility of misunderstanding information. This can provide support and a positive impact on intercultural communication of the cultural identity of a country through the use of internet buzzwords with linguistic hybridization.

Keywords: Linguistic Hybridization; Cultural Identity; Internet Buzzword; Social Media.
Published: December 9, 2024
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2024.17970
Volume: CHR Vol.52
pp. 38-48
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