‘In fact’ on PTT Gossip

Abstract

This study used shell noun as the starting point to analyze language activities that used the word shì shí shàng ‘in fact’ by Internet users on PTT, to understand the truth event that this empty shell noun signifies; and to identify the characteristics of pragmatic practice in the texts screened by the shell noun. Through the PTT Tool, posts with more than 100 comments on the PTT Gossip board during the level 3 alert were first screened out, after which comments that used the word “in fact” were identified. A total of 867 comments contained the word “in fact”. Next, content analysis was applied to classify these comments according to their literal themes. The author discovered that the functional word “in fact” was a word used to provide multiple evidence and create words with ‘objective’ effects. When used to express dissenting opinions, “in fact” enables netizens to use it for shifting their tone, willingly abandoning the responsibility for the speech.