Metafunction Analysis of Net Language

Abstract

Net language resulting from the development of internet and social media serves a special tool for netizens to communicate and bond with each other in computer-mediated communication which involves not only synchronic but also asynchronous ways. Systemic Functional Linguistics believes that any language performs three metafunctions: ideational, interpersonal, and textual. This paper analyzes these three metafunctions of net language and elaborates on the specific field, tenor and mode of net language.