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ERIC Number: EJ1478730
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2576-2907
Available Date: 0000-00-00
"[Chinese symbols omitted](Haha)" in WeChat Chinese Conversations
Weiting Yuan
Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL, v25 n1 p15-30 2025
Few studies have considered the micro-analysis of written laughter in the digital world in its sequential context (beyond frequency and distribution). The present study fills this gap by examining "transcribed" laughter "[Chinese symbols omitted](haha)" in Chinese conversations on WeChat from a conversation analytic perspective. A line-by-line analysis was conducted to identify how speakers use "[Chinese symbols omitted](haha)" in different sequences to perform different social actions. This study has shown that the sequential environments of the laughter "[Chinese symbols omitted](haha)" in WeChat Chinese conversations can be classified into three types: TCU-initial "[Chinese symbols omitted](haha)," TCU-end "[Chinese symbols omitted](haha)" and stand-alone "[Chinese symbols omitted](haha)." These three types of "[Chinese symbols omitted](haha)" perform the actions of mitigating disalignment, managing failure or misconduct, and displaying minimal engagement, respectively. The findings expand the current conversation analysis literature on laughter by describing the use of written laughter in a previously unexamined context and help both native and non-native speakers better navigate informal Chinese digital communication and avoid misunderstandings.
Teachers College, Columbia University. 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027. e-mail: tcsalt@tc.columbia.edu; Web site: https://tesolal.columbia.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A