Abstract：As one of the most important and influential ways of communication in the era of new media, WeChat Liking serves as a combination of multimodal resources and demonstrates linguistic features of a typical multimodal discourse. Referring to the Appraisal System, this study explored the Appraisal meaning and practice of WeChat Liking. The findings are as follows: 1) Transferring from one sub-system to another, WeChat Liking demonstrated multiple meanings; 2) The methods and mechanisms of graduation were simplified, leading to the polarization of meanings; 3) The technological setup afforded and constrained the appraisal space of WeChat Liking; 4) As a kind of appraising practice, WeChat Liking exerted complicated influences on the Appraisal meaning of language and practices of communication. The findings of this study help to identify the applicability and limitation of the Appraisal System and provide new understandings of the theory in new media context.
Key words: new media; Appraisal System; WeChat Liking; multimodality; interpersonal meaning
