A Research On Network Catchwords From The Perspective Of Memetics

In resent years, network catchwords have emerged in our daily life continuously as a newly developed language variety, which exerts a huge influence on social culture and social development. Meanwhile, network catchwords are catching more and more attention as a memetic phenomenon. On the basis of a large amount of data collection and rearrangement by means of combinations of theory and practice, description and interpretation, and induction and deduction, the thesis will conduct a systematic research on network catchword memes from the perspective of memetics. Firstly, the thesis will elaborate the linguistic phenomenon---network catchwords comprehensively; secondly, the theoretical basis of this thesis---memetics will be expounded in details; thirdly, on the basis of systematic analysis and study on network catchword memes, it is found out that network catchwords are essentially strong memes; network catchword memes are most conspicuously characterized by their replicability and transmissibility; there are three replication ways and two transmission ways of network catchword memes; predominance of network itself, conformity to criteria for strong memes, etc. are major causes for replication and transmission of network catchword memes; network catchword memes produce certain effects in the course of replication and transmission; and there exists interactive relationship between network catchword memes and culture. The conclusion is that memetics acts as a theoretical guide in the process of replication and transmission of network catchword memes.