%0 Journal Article
%T Linguistic violence and online political communications in China: The example of ¼¦µÄƨ (Ji De Pi) as an ironic spoof of gross domestic product in online debates around environmental issues
%A Qingning Wang
%J Global Media and China
%@ 2059-4372
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/2059436418775532
%X This article discusses the function of linguistic violence in online political communication in China, by using the specific example of ¼¦µÄƨ (pronounced ¡°ji de pi¡±), an ironic metaphor for gross domestic product. By using systemic functional linguistics as its methodology, the article demonstrates that the term is linguistically violent, and reveals that such a term is used to represent gross domestic product but also means ¡°the fart of a chicken.¡± It is used in online discussions to show disagreement with and disdain toward the government¡¯s gross domestic product-centric policies. The article argues the use of ¼¦µÄƨ, demonstrates Chinese Internet users¡¯ creativities in online discourses, and their use of language to resist government policies that fail to serve their interests. It is not only a way to express oppositional opinions but also the public¡¯s strong emotion of anger
%K China
%K environmental debates
%K gross domestic product
%K linguistic violence
%K online political communication
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2059436418775532