Martian language

Template:Short description Martian language (Template:Zh), sometimes also called brain-disabled characters (Template:Zh), is the nickname of unconventional representation of Chinese characters online by various methods. For example, "" (yīgèréndeshíhòu, "When one is alone") can be changed into "" since the word Template:Linktext (gē) is consonant of Template:Linktext and the word Template:Linktext (dē) is consonant of the word Template:Linktext in bopomofo.

Origin

The etymology of the word, "Martian language", is mostly believed to come from the 2001 Hong Kong comedy Shaolin Soccer, in which Sing (Stephen Chow) tells Mui (Zhao Wei): "Go back to Mars. The Earth is so dangerous."

Martian language originated in Taiwan with the introduction of Chinese input methods and online games. It later began to catch on in mainland China when online games like Audition Online were introduced in China.

General aspects

The Martian language is written in Chinese using various substitution methods. Similarly to leet, where certain Latin letters are replaced by numerals (such as "3" for "e"), Martian language replaces standard Chinese characters with nonstandard or foreign characters. Each Chinese character may be replaced with:

1. A character that is a (quasi-)homophone, either from Standard Chinese, Chinese dialects, or foreign languages.
2. A character that looks similar, such as one with a shared radical.
3. A character with identical or similar meaning.
4. Pictograph characters, Emoji.

Characters used for substitution can include not only other Chinese characters, but also Latin characters, bopomofo, hiragana, katakana, SMS language, Emoji, or other characters defined in Unicode. For example, "" ("thank you") can be replaced by Template:Linktext, a similar sound of "thank you" in English. Template:Linktext is commonly replaced with Template:Linktext, as it has the same intended meaning in Japanese.

In pictograph characters, Template:Linktext can express a deep sense of helplessness, frustration, or utmost sincerity, since it resembles the act of dogeza. Similarly, Template:Linktext can indicate embarrassment because of its similar appearance to a human face.

Substituting characters by similar appearance may involve splitting Chinese radicals. For example, "" (strong) can replaced with "". Substitutions can also use characters from another language or script. For example, Template:Linktext can be understood as laughter since its simplified form, "", looks similar to Template:Linktext, a common expression of laughter in Taiwan.

There is no universal way of encoding standard Chinese to the Martian language, though some substitutions are popular and have even leaked into standard and spoken language, such as Template:Linktext (lit. river crab) for Template:Linktext (harmony), Template:Linktext (lit. leaf jade essay, also having the format of a person's name) for Template:Linktext (advertorial).

Usage

In the 2006 General Scholastic Ability Test of Taiwan, students were asked to interpret symbols and phrases written in "Martian language" based on contexts written in standard language. Controversies which followed forced the testing center to abandon the practice in future exams.

Chinese online netizens later followed the trend of using Martian language since they found their posts written in the new language could more easily pass keyword filtering censorship. For example, when the censorship censored information about Ai Fen, the netizens used Martian language to deceive the censorship.

Example

Template:Multiple issues Below is one example of the nearly infinite number of possible ways to substitute the Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Note that this is an extreme example, as it is uncommon to write entire paragraphs in Martian language.

English translation

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations...

See also

• Education in the Republic of China
• Faux Cyrillic
• Gibberish
• Gyaru-moji
• Heavy metal umlaut
• IDN homograph attack
• Internet slang
• Leet
• Mojibake
• Orz
• Yaminjeongeum

External links

• 火星文VS典雅用語