The “Moments,” WeChat’s equivalent of Facebook’s news feed, is not simply private space.

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In an Internet age, a distinct form of online language that is used on microblogs, WeChat and other online social platforms has become an important part of daily communication. We can call this language “micro language.” Though micro language is fresh and lively, some of its usage presents a degree of vulgarization, which negatively impacts language acquisition, especially for children.

Because micro language is inevitable, we should adapt to and develop this form of language while at the same time, we should pay attention to its governance.

Currently, micro language is altering traditional linguistic life. For example, some people consider the “Moments,” WeChat’s equivalent of Facebook’s news feed, to be a private space. This makes them feel free to post whatever they like without constraint. However, it is not as simple as this. Moments, as a new social platform, is actually a distinct language context on the Internet, which is equivalent to language contexts in the traditional sense.

In this new context, communication appears as a network with complicated relations. As our friends list on WeChat expands, the meaning of friends is broadened and becomes shallow. Some friends on WeChat are acquaintances but not close friends in real life while some communicate with one another online but never on other occasions.

We discuss various topics simultaneously with so-called friends on WeChat. This pattern of communication would be unimaginable in a traditional language context and it has created unprecedented problems.

While reconstructing the traditional linguistic life, micro language shows some phenomena that are not in compliance with linguistic theories or that are not suitable for being spread in both public and private domains, such as violent and vulgar language as well as the overuse of emojis.

From the perspective of social linguistics, these phenomena belong to language pollution, which can produce a negative influence on people’s linguistic life. Therefore, the governance of micro language is imperative. 

Our language policies and regulations were once formulated and implemented from the top to the bottom. Usually language management comes in the form of administrative laws and regulations that are issued by the State Language Commission and other departments. Now, in response to the trend of micro language, all parties should take part in governance to ensure the healthy development of our language life.

Related organizations and units should use different tools and methods to regulate language usage. The related government sectors should formulate practical and feasible policies. And the developers and users of Internet social platforms should also take initiative to prevent language pollution.

Micro language is mainly used on WeChat, microblogs and other social platforms. Therefore, these platforms should be at the frontline for governance. All Internet companies providing information technology services should have the consciousness of micro language governance, instead of adding fuel to the flames. For example, some Internet companies release a list of dirty online words for public reference, which is a useful attempt.

Also, search engines and input methods for computers should develop a list of vocabulary which can be filtered out in usage. Managers of social platforms should also take measures to prevent the spread of vulgar language. The management of social platforms is to eliminate the soil for language pollution.

 

Song Hui is from the Research Center of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at Beijing International Studies University.