Chinese teenagers who have Internet access are crazy about a new fad they call ‘Martian language’. By using invented words and expression like ‘Orz’ or even ‘= =’ they make their communication safe from grown-ups, reports CRIENGLISH.com.

Basically ‘Martian language’ is a cyberspace term that Chinese Internet surfers use to describe words that are not recognised by outsiders. It’s an ever-growing mixture of English letters, Chinese characters and just symbols that became popular in Taiwan a few years ago and then spread to the mainland.

Privacy seems to be the key factor behind the language’s popularity, although kids say it also gives them a sense of identity.

Russian counterparts have a similar Internet-based language they call Olbanian (sic!). It’s composed of ordinary words distorted in funny ways and loaded with special meaning unknown to non-connected folk.