Chinese Internet Neologisms Froma Sociolinguistic Perspective: The Case of "City Bu City"

The wide spread of online communication has fueled the emergence of Internet neologisms, offering valuable insights into the sociolinguistic impact on language innovation. This study investigates the sociolinguistic dimensions of Chinese Internet neologisms, taking “city bu city” as a representative case. Through a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative and qualitative analyses, this study tries to explore its lexical, semantic, and morphological features, as well as the socio-cultural factors underlying its widespread usage. Using tools like Web Corp Live and Baidu Index, this research will trace the diachronic spread of “city bu city” and provide insights into the mechanisms of its popularity. The findings contribute to enhance the comprehension of language dynamics in the digital era, as well as the interplay among language, society, and technology.

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