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Article published In: Pragmatics
Vol. 33:1 (2023) ► pp.78–98

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The son (érzi) is not really a son

Generalization of address terms in Chinese online discourse

ORCiD logo with link | Nanjing Normal University
 | Nanjing University
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) 4.0 license.
Published online: 22 September 2022
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https://doi.org/10.1075/prag.20070.yan
Abstract
This paper aims to explore the generalization of address terms in online discourse, a largely unheeded pragmatic phenomenon. Taking the generalized Chinese kinship term “son” (érzi) as an example, it analyzes its referents and functions. The analysis was based on a sizable data set collected from WeChat, and interviews with some WeChat users. It demonstrates that the address term “son” (érzi) conveys its faithful meaning when referring to the male child of (a) parent(s) but virtual meaning when referring to the addresser’s friends, classmates or pets. It is also argued that the generalized use of the address term “son” (érzi) can function to enhance relationships, make jocular abuse, and express emotions. These functions suggest the users’ identity avoidance and relating needs in a virtual community. This study attempts to contribute to a better understanding of the virtualization of address terms and rapport management in online discourse.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1Address terms
    • 2.2Generalization of address terms
    • 2.3Chinese generalized kinship terms
    • 2.4Research gaps
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Research questions
    • 3.2Data collection, identification, and calculation
    • 3.3Data analysis
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Referents of the generalized address term érzi
    • 4.2Functions of the generalized address term érzi
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
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