“You're a nuisance!”: “Patch-up” jocular abuse in Chinese fiction

Abstract

An apparently impolite utterance in a situated context sometimes may be used to convey messages other than genuine impoliteness, as in the case of jocular abuse. While there has been some literature on naturally occurring jocular abuse in the real world, little attention has gone to its representation in fiction and its roles in characterisation and plot development. On this account, this study investigates a type of what we term “patch-up” jocular abuse in Chinese fiction, analysing the mixed messages that it helps to convey and the relational work that it accomplishes. Using data from five popular Chinese novels, the study shows that such jocular abuse among characters in close or intimate relationships conveys a variety of mixed messages, coupling a negative element (grudge, dissatisfaction, irritation, complaint, etc.) with a positive element (fondness, tenderness, forgiving, mateship, etc.); and that, as a complex interactional practice, such jocular abuse succeeds in doing various kinds of relational work simultaneously. The study suggests that the portrayal of the jocular abuse may contribute to characterisation and plot development. Hopefully, this study may shed light on the understanding of jocular abuse found not only in Chinese fiction but also in other contexts.