A Study on the Variation of Network Language

Abstract

With the development of the Internet, network language has received more and more attention. As a language variant, network language has its own characteristics different from traditional language, such as simplicity and interest. This study aims to explore the characteristics, reasons and social functions of network language variation. From the perspective of sociolinguistics, this paper finds that the characteristics of the variation of network language involve three aspects: vocabulary variation, grammar variation and pragmatics variation. Besides, this study also finds out the social reasons and personal psychological reasons that lead to the variation of network language. Finally, three social functions of network language variation are discussed: marking function, entertainment function and commercial function.