Emerging Chinese-English Hybridized Internet Neologisms: a Big Data Study Based on Baidu Index

Abstract

This article studies the emerging neologisms in the Chinese cyber context: 打call, hold住, word哥, which are termed Chinese-English hybridized internet neologisms (CEHINs). CEHINs share the features of Chinese words and English words. Based on the research tool called Baidu Index, it is found: (1) the structure and pronunciation of CEHINs (打call, hold住, word哥) is different from the ‘pure’ Chinese or English internet neologisms; (2) the diffusion of them is Chinese netizen-driven, not the meme-driven; (3) the top users of them are usually aged between 30-39, while the ‘pure’ Chinese internet neologisms are much more frequently used by netizens aged 20-29; and (4) the popularization of internet, fast cultural communications in cyber times, and the further pervasiveness of English as a Lingua Franca in China are the reasons for the emergence and popularity of them in China.