Accepting youth terminology in China

Youth terminology, largely invented and spawned by social networks spanning the ages of adolescence to young adulthood, embodies a connotative reality that, at times, extends well beyond the conventional use of the language. This study investigates the acceptance degree of youth terms across differe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Pengyu Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2360017
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Summary:Youth terminology, largely invented and spawned by social networks spanning the ages of adolescence to young adulthood, embodies a connotative reality that, at times, extends well beyond the conventional use of the language. This study investigates the acceptance degree of youth terms across different age groups in China. It adopts language ideology as the theoretical framework and combines it with Bronislaw Malinowski’s language value. The researcher gets responses (N = 226) among people aged from 10 to 70 with a high level of acceptance towards youth terminology in Chinese society generally. It reveals that the underlying language ideology, alongside the specific meanings or concepts emblematic of such ideology, significantly influences acceptance levels. Notably, individuals between 40 and 70 years preferred terms imbued with positive connotations that resonate with their life experiences. Youth are more concentrated on whether terms can help them express themselves effectively and effortlessly, as they coined youth terms.
ISSN:0267-3843
2164-4527