转载 & 翻译 | 包揽一切的YYDS，泯灭了多少汉语表达的丰富滋味

徐默凡老师在汹涌、繁杂、凌乱的现时网络流行语中发现了共性——极致表达，其特征字眼如“死”“爆”“神”，其使用趋势是日益上涨并扩散。在分析过程中，老师列举了具体的例子仔细说明，将流行语的传播与传统形式的语言传播进行比较，并最后说明了流行语趋势可能产生的影响。

包揽一切的YYDS，泯灭了多少汉语表达的丰富滋味

How much richness of Chinese expression has the “universal” YYDS dissolved?

近来，不少简单粗暴型的网络流行语不断冲击着我们的视野，一点点小成果就是“yyds（永远滴神）”，一点点小激动就是“啊我死了（啊我死了）”，一遇到困难就是“大无语”，稍有点起色又“杀疯了”，不管是赞叹还是嘲讽说一句“绝绝子”总没错……至于“笑死”“美爆”“丑哭”之类更是天天见面，不绝于耳。

Recently, lots of simple and crude Internet buzzwords keep popping into our vision. The most powerful ones probably are:

“yyds” (G.O.A.T. = the greatest of all the time);

Just a little bit of small excitement can make (young) people say “啊我死了 (ah I am gonna die, abbreviation according to pinyin)”;

They can say “大无语” (big speechlessness) about everything difficult they meet;

When things get a little better they’ll say “杀疯了” (It’s so amazing/tragic that it kills me);

Whether it is praise or mockery, saying a “绝绝子” (absolutely  impressive/ funny/ amazing/ outrageous, etc.) can’t be wrong...

As for “笑死” (lmao - laughing my ass off), “美爆” (extraordinarily beautiful), “丑哭” (something is so ugly that it makes people cry, extremely ugly) and so on, you cannot escape from them as long as you are a web user.

其实，这一类流行语并不是新兴的语言现象，在历年网络流行语中经常可以看到它们的身影，如“我太难了”“奥利给”“洪荒之力”等等，只不过以前是暗潮涌动，今天变成汹涌澎湃了。

In fact, such buzzwords are not newly emerging linguistic phenomena. This type of Internet slang has had its own position in the “List of top Internet slang” over the years, such as “我太难了” (Life is so hard for me), “奥利给” (new way of saying 加油), “洪荒之力”(mysterious great power inside a human), etc. Just that they were solely developed within several Internet communities or leagues, but now they are going viral. They are vastly booming.

这样的流行语背后有什么共性？它们为什么会成为一股不可阻挡的语言潮流？它们会怎样影响汉语表达？

What do these buzzwords have in common? Why have they become an unstoppable linguistic fashion trend? What impacts do they have on Chinese expressions?

语不惊人死不休泛滥开来，它已没有太多表达价值

It’s a widespread phenomenon that people are reluctant to give up unless they come up with new shocking words, phrases or sentences (“语不惊人死不休” was originally from the great ancient poet 杜甫, which was created to describe his attitude of pursuing perfection in his poetic language. But here the author uses it ironically). This is where little value of expressing is left.

 

上述流行语的语义共性都是极度夸张，语不惊人死不休，靠极致性表达实现大众广泛传播的效应。其实，日常语言中的高程度表达也很常见，汉语中的相关词语就有“很”“非常”“特别”“极其”“厉害”等，但是网络语言呈现出两个鲜明的特点：一是极致表达大量涌现，带有浓烈的夸张色彩；二是随意使用最高级，导致语义贬值严重。

The semantic commonality of the buzzwords mentioned above is that they are all extremely exaggerated and that they rely on extreme expressional style to come into widespread use. In fact, expressions of great intensity are also common in everyday language. Related words are “很”, “非常”, “特别”, “极其”, “厉害” and so on. But Internet language has two distinctive features: Firstly, the large amount of emerging extreme expressions with strong exaggerations; Secondly, the overuse of superlative forms, which leads to serious semantic devaluation.

一、死亡（death）

在人类社会中，“死亡”是人人惧怕的事情，死亡禁忌使人不愿意轻易提起和“死”有关的事情。因此，在日常语言中一旦要用“死”“要命”来形容，就一定是很少发生的极端事件，而且往往带有负面色彩，比如“累死”“忙死”“穷得要命”“疼得要命”等等。但在网络流行语里，“生死”不再“攸关”，人们动辄“寻死觅活”，可以“哭死”“笑死”，可以“美死”“丑死”，“啊我死了（啊我死了）”更是可以挂在嘴边，一天下来不知道要“死去活来”多少次。

In human society, “death” is something that everyone fears. And the taboo of death makes people avoid talking about “death”. Therefore, in everyday language, “death” & “claim one’s life” are only used, usually negatively, when it comes to extreme events that rarely happen. That’s when we say “ 'die’ of exhaustion”, “deadly busy”, “poor to death”, “deadly painful” and so on. However, in Internet slang, “life and death” is no longer “at stake” (“生死攸关” is 成语). People easily “attempt suicide”. They can easily “cry to death”, “laugh to death”, “be amazed by beauty to death” and “be shocked by ugliness to death”. Even“啊我死了” (啊a我wǒ死sǐ了le - Ah I’m gonna die) can be an everyday byword. It’s hard to know how many times a person can experience “death” and then “come back to life” in a single day.

二、爆炸（explosion）

在物理世界中，“爆炸”伴随着声、光、能量的瞬间爆发，极具感官冲击力。因此，“爆”“裂”“炸”“毁”等语素也发展出大量夸张用法，成为网络极致表达的宠儿。“这个研究让全世界都炸了”“震惊！这样的言论毁三观”，耸人听闻的公众号标题随处可见。“我裂开了”“原地爆炸”“演技炸裂”“口碑爆棚”等也是挂在嘴边，谈笑间一片“硝烟弥漫”“战火纷飞”。

In the world, an “explosion” happens with a sudden burst of sound, light and energy that has a great sensual impact. As a result, a number of exaggerated uses of the words such as “explode”, “crack”, “blow up” and “destroy” have developed, becoming Internet extreme expression “darlings”.

“This study brought the whole world to an 'explosion’!”

“Shock! Such statements are 'destroying’ our view of the world, life and value.”

Such horrible headlines of public articles are everywhere.

“I’m cracking up”, “Explode right away”, “Acting skill is blowing up”, “Reputation is bringing to a packed house”, etc. are also overwhelmingly spoken out. “Smoke and fire” are pervasive in the talk.

三、神（god）

在神话世界里，神仙代表了尘世无法企及的无上神通，但在网络语言中也被网民们拖下凡尘，用来表达极致的程度。学校里有“学霸”“学神”，演艺圈有“男神”“女神”“小仙女”，报道里有“神展开”，新闻里有“神转折”……当然，神通不灭，他们都是“yyds（永远滴神）”。

In the world of mythology, gods and goddesses (divine beings, mortals, fairies, Chinese “Xian”) represent supreme powers beyond the reach of earthly beings. But in Internet language,  gods and goddesses are also dragged down to earth by netizens and applied to the extreme expression.

In school, there are “the king of study” and “the god of study”.

In the entertainment industry, there are “god”, “goddess” and “little fairy”.

In news reports, there is “divine unfolding” and “divine turns”.

......

Of course, the divine power is indestructible. They are all “yyds” (G.O.A.T.).

这些极致表达和传统的程度副词相比，因为其生动形象的隐喻属性，无疑具有更大的新鲜感和更大的冲击力，但是也带来了语词世界的“通货膨胀”。经济领域里，不断发行大额货币会导致物价飞涨，货币越来越不值钱。语言世界中，极致表达大量涌现，不区分实际情况到处滥用，就会导致“语义贬值”——语词失去自己的确定内涵，甚至变成一个纯语气成分。

These extreme expressions have a greater freshness and impact than the traditional degree adverbs because of their vivid metaphorical features, but they also bring about an “inflation” in the linguistic world. In the economic world, the constant issuing of large amounts of money leads to soaring prices and the currency becoming increasingly worthless. In the linguistic world, the floods of extreme expressions, overused without distinction, leads to a “semantic devaluation” - words lose their definitive connotation and even become merely a tone.

我们来考察一下yyds（永远滴神）的演变过程。yyds最早出现在电竞圈，被游戏主播用来赞扬电竞选手出神入化的游戏操作。后来扩展到饭圈，被粉丝用来称赞爱豆（偶像）的杰出表现。在出圈以后，yyds的应用场景不断扩大，不仅可以用来赞美人物，也可以用来赞美国家、机构、组织，进而扩展到事件、事理、事物等，一切皆可成神。与应用域不断扩大对应的就是“封神”的门槛不断降低，只要略有优点，都可以yyds，比如“初三14班yyds！”“盐水棒冰yyds！”“《黑猫警长》yyds！”……到了这一步，yyds已经变成了一个口水词，主要用于宣泄情绪，没有太多的表达价值了。

Let’s review the evolution of “yyds”. It first appeared in the E-sports scene and was used by game presenters to praise their players for their amazing game-play skills. It later entered the fandom and was used by fans to show praise for the outstanding performance of their idols. After “yyds” went beyond its original field, its contexts of use kept expanding and could be used to praise not only individuals, but also countries, institutions and organizations, and then events, ideas and products, etc. Everything can be a “god”. Correspondingly, the barriers to “be 'god-ed’ ” are also lowered. With even a little advantage, a new “yyds” can be born. For example, “Class 14, Grade 9 yyds!” (slogan of author’s son’s class), “Saltwater Popsicle yyds!”, “Black Cat Detective (a Chinese cartoon) yyds!” ... By this point, “yyds” has become nearly nonsense, mainly used to release emotions and without much value of expressing.

极致表达是增强网络情感交流的重要补偿手段

Extreme expression is an important means of compensating for the emotional communication lost online.

 

网络交际中的极致表达形成势不可挡的流行趋势，主要根源在于语言使用和传播方式的巨大变化。

The unstoppable popularity of extreme expression in Internet communication is largely rooted in the dramatic changes in the way language is used and spread.

网络传播媒介的迅猛发展，极大地拓展了人们的社交范围。网络社交成熟之前，我们的口语交际对象只是数量有限的亲朋好友，书面语交流主要是对纸质媒体上规范表达的单向接收，特定语言单位的使用频率、传播速度都十分有限。一个语言表达要想成为社会流行语，往往要经过长期的口耳相传、媒体发酵，然后才能脱颖而出。但是通过大浪淘沙，传统时代留下的流行语往往文质兼美，会流传久远甚至进入词典，成为现代汉语的有机组成部分。

The rapid development of social networking media has greatly expanded people’s social life. Before social networking developed and got mature, our oral communication was with a limited number of friends and family members, written communication was mainly a one-way reception of standard expressions in newspapers, and the frequency of use and speed of spreading of particular phrases were very limited. For a linguistic expression to become a buzzword, it often had to be passed on by “Word of mouth” and traditional media over a long time before it got into the public market. However, the buzzwords that originated in the pre-Internet age were often beautiful, elegant or even literary, and would survive for a long time or even enter the lexicon and become an integral part of modern Chinese.

而到了网络时代，每个人都有成百上千的社交好友，每个人都在微信、微博、QQ等社交软件上“激扬文字，挥斥方遒”，一个新鲜的用法通过几何级数的病毒式“传染”，在短短一两天内就可以风靡全国。按照语用规律，一个语言形式使用频率越高，适用的场域就会越广，但是语义泛化、语义贬值也就会越严重，新鲜感很快就会过去，无数的极致表达“你方唱罢我登场”，但只能“各领风骚三五天”了。由于变换快速，升级换代频繁，就给我们留下了极致表达汹涌澎湃、势不可挡的印象。

In the internet age, everyone has hundreds of thousands of social friends, and everyone is creating their own things and expressing self social media like WeChat, Sina Weibo, QQ and so on. A new linguistic usage through exponential “infection”, can go viral over the country in just one or two days. According to the pragmatic rule, the more frequently a language form is used, the more universally it’ll be used, but at the same time the more serious the semantic generalization and devaluation will be, and the novelty will soon vanish. Hence countless extreme expressions come and go, but no one endures. The rapidity and frequency of change and iteration give us the impression that extreme expressions are overwhelming and unstoppable.

网络交际还有一个很重要的传播特点——交际双方不在同一空间，不能交流现场信息。这就导致表情、手势、体态、语调等语言外因素不能被觉知，而这些因素主要是用来进行情感交流的。交际活动的主要目的是“表情达意”，网络交际能“达意”，但“表情”有很大的欠缺。为了弥补这一缺憾，网络语言发展出了很多特有的传递情感的手段，比如五花八门的表情包，比如“哈哈”“呵呵”“呜呜”等拟声词语的活用。只要细加体察，我们就会发现极致表达也是增强网络情感交流的重要补偿手段。极致性词语除了具有程度义以外，更多是在表达情绪，“神”“哭”“死”“疯”“爆”这些语素都富有形象色彩和情感色彩。说一个人是“女神”不仅是夸她能力出众，更多是在表达敬仰的情感；说自己“笑死”，主要不是说事情好笑，而是在渲染自己的强烈情绪。因为这些情绪不能借助现场因素有效表达，所以只能通过夸张的语义来曲折传递了。

There is another very important feature of the spreading of Internet communication - the two parties are not in the same physical space and are not able to exchange information on the spot. This means that nonverbal factors such as expressions, gestures, postures and intonation, which are mainly used to communicate emotions, cannot be perceived. The main purpose of communication is to “express emotions and convey meanings” (表情达意 is 成语), and online communication can “convey meaning”, but “expressing emotions” is greatly lacking. In order to make up for this, the Internet language has developed a number of unique means of conveying emotions, such as a variety of emojis and memes, such as “haha”, “huh”, “oooh” and other uses of onomatopoeia. If we take a closer look, we will find that extreme expressions are also an important means of compensation for the lack of emotional communication online. In addition to their high semantic degree, extreme words are used to express emotions more. Words such as “god”, “cry”, “die”, “mad” and “explode” are all figurative and emotive. To say that a person is a “goddess” is not only to praise her outstanding ability, but also to express admiration; to say that one is “dying of laughter” is not mainly to say that something is funny, but rather to express one’s strong emotions. Because these emotions cannot be expressed effectively on the spot, they can only be conveyed through exaggerated semantics circuitously.

失去表达丰富性的同时，也就失去了表达的精确性

The loss of richness in expression is accompanied by the loss of precision in expression.

极致词语的泛滥使用，固然是网络传播的特点应运而生的，但显然会对我们的语言表达产生一系列影响。

The widespread use of extreme words is certainly a consequence of the nature of online communication, but it clearly has a range of impacts on our daily language expressions.

首先，不管什么情况都是最高程度，也就失去程度表达的价值。世界是丰富多彩的，事件是纷纭复杂的，人物是性格迥异的，事物是千姿百态的，如果都用一句“奥利给”或者“yyds”来一以蔽之，在失去表达丰富性的同时，也就失去了表达的精确性。这就像通货膨胀到最后，任何小面值的货币都会变成废纸退出流通，而大面值的货币也不再具有客观衡量商品价值的功能，最终导致整个经济体系的崩溃。

First of all, if the highest degree is used to describe any situation, then the value of the strength of expression is lost. The world is full of diversity, things are various, and people are very different. If they are all depicted in a single “奥里给” or “yyds”, while losing the richness of expression, we are also losing the precision of expression. It is just like inflation. In the end, any small-denomination currency will become paper trash and be withdrawn from circulation, while large-denomination currency will no longer be able to objectively measure the value of goods, leading to the final collapse of the entire economic system.

其次，大量极致词语不仅语义泛化缺少明确的语义特征，而且在语形上也往往“粗制滥造”，没有语言美感和语言智慧。yyds、啊我死了只是拼音缩写，“夺笋”“碉堡”是没有营养的谐音梗，“笑死了”“美哭了”“杀疯了”“我太难了”更是简单的口水话。言之无文，行之不远，“其兴也勃焉，其亡也忽焉”，一番热闹之后，留下的可能只是满地垃圾。

Secondly, a large number of extreme words are also “crude and shoddy” in morphology, without linguistic beauty and wisdom. “yyds” and “啊我死了” are just abbreviations of pinyin, “夺笋” and “碉堡” are just undernourished homo-phonic games, “笑死了”, “美哭了”, “杀疯了”, “我太难了” are simple catchphrases. “Words without deepness and art cannot go a long way”. “The renaissance and the evanishment can just be a flash”. After a party, what is left can be only rubbish all over the floor.

更值得警惕的是，滥用极致词语会对我们的思维活动产生深远影响。语言不仅是交际的工具，还是思维的工具。语言不仅是思维的工具，还会对思维过程产生极大的反作用。这种反作用不易察觉，却是潜移默化的，不经意间就会塑造一代人的思维品质。

What is even more alarming is the profound effect that the overuse of extreme words can have on our mental activities. Language is not only a tool for communication, it is also a tool for thinking. Language is not only a tool for thinking, but it can also change how we think. This process is being done in an invisible and nuanced way, which can shape a generation’s thinking quality without being noticed.

滥用极致词语会诱导简单化的思维方式。我们观察对象、思考问题依靠的语言，语言简单粗暴，思维也就简单粗暴，如果下意识之间跃出脑海的都是极致性词语，就会使我们不再去辨析对象之间的精细差别，不再去体会事物之间的复杂关系，语言把简单的表达模式强加给我们，我们不知不觉就成了语言的奴隶。我们不再精益求精，不去追求炉火纯青、游刃有余、登峰造极、出神入化的各种境界，因为“yyds”已经包揽一切。

The overuse of extreme words induces simplification of the way of thinking. The language we rely on to observe objects and think about them - if the language is simple and vulgar, so does the mind. And if all that pops into our heads are extreme words, we will no longer be able to identify the fine differences between objects or appreciate the complex relationships between things. Language imposes simple expression patterns on us, and we become slaves to it without being aware of it. We no longer strive for brilliant writing, for the inimitable style, for perfection, for the ultimate, because the universal “yyds” has it all.

滥用极致词语还会导致思维活动的情绪化倾向。重要的似乎不再是事物的本质特征，而是主观情绪的宣泄，长此以往难免使人的情绪表达重于事实表达，甚至忽视事实，把本能的情绪反应凌驾于缜密的理性思维之上。

The overuse of extreme words also leads to a tendency to over-emotionalize mental activities. What seems important is no longer the essence of things, but the release of subjective emotions, which inevitably leads in the long run to the expression of emotions over facts, or even to the neglect of facts, putting instinctive emotional reactions above serious rational thinking.

咬文嚼字，咬嚼的是生活的滋味，咬嚼的是思维的品质。让我们在流行语脱口而出之前，停下来慢慢想一想，是否还有更贴切、更精致的表达？

咬文嚼字(to bite words and chew characters (idiom)), the taste of life is “bitten” and the quality of thinking is chewed. Let’s stop and take time to think before the buzzwords come out of our mouths: is there a more apposite and refined expression instead?

最后想说的：

本人并非翻译专业，英语也并非完美。徐默凡老师的这篇文章本身就语言精炼且优美，具有很强的修辞性与幽默感，在翻译过程中我都尽所能体现。能够在如此一个全局观中讨论网络流行语，需要对汉语、流行文化、语言学、现代传媒等等都有完整深入的认识，此篇文章的写作是难得的。

在我看来，汉语国际教育与文化传播从来就不会避重就轻，也不会对一切消极现象避而不谈，而是以一种好的方式去呈现信息，以一种开放的态度去教育与启发学习者，促进独立自主思考与输出。