The Application of Cross-Linguistic and Cross-Semiotic Practices on RedNote: A Case Study of “Crazy Literature”

Yiting Lu

doi:10.6918/IJOSSER.202508_8(8).0010

Authors

Yiting Lu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202508_8(8).0010

Keywords:

Translanguaging, cross-semiotic, pragmatic function, emoji, punctuation marks.

Abstract

“Crazy Literature” is a form of online language that has gained popularity on the Chinese internet since 2021. Characterized by disorganized sentence structures, chaotic punctuation, and the unstructured use of emojis, it serves as a medium for users to express emotions. This study aims to investigate the use of emojis and punctuation in “Crazy Literature” from a cross-linguistic perspective. Drawing on the metafunctional approach to multimodal analysis, the author collected 194 relevant posts from the social media platform Rednote. The findings reveal that users engage in two types of cross-linguistic practices involving punctuation, and two types involving emojis. The study concludes that through the creative use of punctuation and emojis, internet users participate in cross-semiotic practices, transforming these conventional non-verbal elements into cross-linguistic cues. As a result, these extralinguistic resources become essential components in the meaning-making process of digital communication.

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