A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “<i>ta ma de</i>” and Its Variants

Yantao Zeng; Yuemei Liu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17

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A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants

Yantao Zeng, Yuemei Liu

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 9, Issue 4)

Received: 14 June 2021 Accepted: 29 June 2021 Published: 10 July 2021

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Abstract

Guo Ma (Chinese-specific cursing terms) is a type of scolding expressions widely spread in colloquial Chinese, expressing such emotion as dislike, grudge, indignation. Searching the internet reveals that, while there are many comments and essays about this kind of words, a theoretically systematical discussion of their construction, pragmatic and textual function is rare. This paper, based on corpus observation and questionnaire analysis, aims at exploring the composition, types, functions and pragmatic forces of Chinese-specific cursing terms ta ma de and its variants. It is revealed that: (1) There are eight main types of Chinese-specific cursing words in ta ma de and its variants; (2) These cursing terms under observation convey not only negative attitude and emotion as traditionally recognized but also neutral or even positive attitude and emotion; (3) Chinese national curse ta ma de and its variants are phrases used not only to perform the pragmatic function of swearing but also play a grammatical cognitive function. The researchers do not intend to offer a deliberate justification for these terms but show that they are not diabolic expressions and deserve a full attention of linguists.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17
Page(s)	188-195
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Guo Ma (Chinese-specific Curse), Composition & Type, Function & Meaning

References

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[2]	Huang, Hui. On the refinement of Chinese abuse and its variants, Journal of Chinese. 2016, (04): 53-54.
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[4]	Jiang, Jiebao. On the construction and classification of swearing [J]. Journal of Anqing Normal College (Social Sciences), 2000 (1).
[5]	Lu, Licheng & Aifen Li. Swearword Translation in Steve Jobs: A Communicative/Semantic Perspective [J]. English Language and Literature Studies, 2020 (1).
[6]	Lu Xun. On "Ta Ma de (fucking)!" [J]. Yu Si, 1925 (37).
[7]	Lu Xun. The Complete Works of Lu Xun [M]. People's Literature Press, 1982: 232.
[8]	Niu, Penghua. A Study on the semantic connotation of -class words (words about vaginal orifice) in modern Chinese society from the perspective of social linguistics. Chinese character culture. 2021 (01): 143-145.
[9]	Searle, John. Expression and Meaning: Studies in the Theory of Speech Acts [M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979.
[10]	Sperber, D. & D. Wilson. Relevance: Communication and Cognition [M]. Oxford: Blackwell. Second edition, 1995.
[11]	Valdeón, Roberto A. Swearing and the vulgarization hypothesis in Spanish audiovisual translation [J]. Journal of Pragmatics., 2020 (Vol. 155): 261-272.
[12]	Verschueren, Jef. Understanding Pragmatics [M]. London and New York: Arnold. 1999.
[13]	Wang, Qingxia. Some objections against Lu Xun’s essay titled On “ta ma de” (fucking)! Lu Xun Research Monthly. 2017, (12): 20-23.
[14]	Yao Chunrong. Research on Chinese abuse [D], Master's Degree Dissertation of Jinan University, 2009.
[15]	Zeng, Yantao & Yuemei Liu. Relevance strategy in reading and reading instruction, Humanities and Social Science, 2021. 4.
[16]	You, Hui ying & Zhi xiang Sun. On the Chinese Translation of Swearwords in English Films Under the Polysystem [J]. Journal of Literature and Art Studies. 2021 (2).
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[18]	Zhang, Keying. Some Thoughts over Lu Xun’s essay titled On “ta ma de” (fucking)! [J], Chinese Character Culture, 2020 (2): 104-105.

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APA Style

Yantao Zeng, Yuemei Liu. (2021). A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 9(4), 188-195. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17

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ACS Style

Yantao Zeng; Yuemei Liu. A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2021, 9(4), 188-195. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17

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AMA Style

Yantao Zeng, Yuemei Liu. A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants. Int J Lang Linguist. 2021;9(4):188-195. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17,
  author = {Yantao Zeng and Yuemei Liu},
  title = {A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {188-195},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20210904.17},
  abstract = {Guo Ma (Chinese-specific cursing terms) is a type of scolding expressions widely spread in colloquial Chinese, expressing such emotion as dislike, grudge, indignation. Searching the internet reveals that, while there are many comments and essays about this kind of words, a theoretically systematical discussion of their construction, pragmatic and textual function is rare. This paper, based on corpus observation and questionnaire analysis, aims at exploring the composition, types, functions and pragmatic forces of Chinese-specific cursing terms ta ma de and its variants. It is revealed that: (1) There are eight main types of Chinese-specific cursing words in ta ma de and its variants; (2) These cursing terms under observation convey not only negative attitude and emotion as traditionally recognized but also neutral or even positive attitude and emotion; (3) Chinese national curse ta ma de and its variants are phrases used not only to perform the pragmatic function of swearing but also play a grammatical cognitive function. The researchers do not intend to offer a deliberate justification for these terms but show that they are not diabolic expressions and deserve a full attention of linguists.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants
AU  - Yantao Zeng
AU  - Yuemei Liu
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PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
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AB  - Guo Ma (Chinese-specific cursing terms) is a type of scolding expressions widely spread in colloquial Chinese, expressing such emotion as dislike, grudge, indignation. Searching the internet reveals that, while there are many comments and essays about this kind of words, a theoretically systematical discussion of their construction, pragmatic and textual function is rare. This paper, based on corpus observation and questionnaire analysis, aims at exploring the composition, types, functions and pragmatic forces of Chinese-specific cursing terms ta ma de and its variants. It is revealed that: (1) There are eight main types of Chinese-specific cursing words in ta ma de and its variants; (2) These cursing terms under observation convey not only negative attitude and emotion as traditionally recognized but also neutral or even positive attitude and emotion; (3) Chinese national curse ta ma de and its variants are phrases used not only to perform the pragmatic function of swearing but also play a grammatical cognitive function. The researchers do not intend to offer a deliberate justification for these terms but show that they are not diabolic expressions and deserve a full attention of linguists.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Yantao Zeng

School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Yuemei Liu

Department of Foreign Languages, Yangjiang Open University, Yangjiang, China

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APA Style

Yantao Zeng, Yuemei Liu. (2021). A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 9(4), 188-195. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17

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ACS Style

Yantao Zeng; Yuemei Liu. A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2021, 9(4), 188-195. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17

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AMA Style

Yantao Zeng, Yuemei Liu. A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants. Int J Lang Linguist. 2021;9(4):188-195. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17,
  author = {Yantao Zeng and Yuemei Liu},
  title = {A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {188-195},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20210904.17},
  abstract = {Guo Ma (Chinese-specific cursing terms) is a type of scolding expressions widely spread in colloquial Chinese, expressing such emotion as dislike, grudge, indignation. Searching the internet reveals that, while there are many comments and essays about this kind of words, a theoretically systematical discussion of their construction, pragmatic and textual function is rare. This paper, based on corpus observation and questionnaire analysis, aims at exploring the composition, types, functions and pragmatic forces of Chinese-specific cursing terms ta ma de and its variants. It is revealed that: (1) There are eight main types of Chinese-specific cursing words in ta ma de and its variants; (2) These cursing terms under observation convey not only negative attitude and emotion as traditionally recognized but also neutral or even positive attitude and emotion; (3) Chinese national curse ta ma de and its variants are phrases used not only to perform the pragmatic function of swearing but also play a grammatical cognitive function. The researchers do not intend to offer a deliberate justification for these terms but show that they are not diabolic expressions and deserve a full attention of linguists.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Pragmatic Approach to the Composition, Types, Functions and Interpretations of Chinese-specific Curse Guo Ma “ta ma de” and Its Variants
AU  - Yantao Zeng
AU  - Yuemei Liu
Y1  - 2021/07/10
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 188
EP  - 195
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.17
AB  - Guo Ma (Chinese-specific cursing terms) is a type of scolding expressions widely spread in colloquial Chinese, expressing such emotion as dislike, grudge, indignation. Searching the internet reveals that, while there are many comments and essays about this kind of words, a theoretically systematical discussion of their construction, pragmatic and textual function is rare. This paper, based on corpus observation and questionnaire analysis, aims at exploring the composition, types, functions and pragmatic forces of Chinese-specific cursing terms ta ma de and its variants. It is revealed that: (1) There are eight main types of Chinese-specific cursing words in ta ma de and its variants; (2) These cursing terms under observation convey not only negative attitude and emotion as traditionally recognized but also neutral or even positive attitude and emotion; (3) Chinese national curse ta ma de and its variants are phrases used not only to perform the pragmatic function of swearing but also play a grammatical cognitive function. The researchers do not intend to offer a deliberate justification for these terms but show that they are not diabolic expressions and deserve a full attention of linguists.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download