The Representation And Mechanism Of The Netspeak’s Influence On Network Thinking

With the development of science and technology at the information age, our society depends more and more on a diversity of Network, and changes the Netizen’s way of thinking. Network becomes the engine of the 21 st century’s scientific research. Improvement and popularity of the Internet has provided Netizen with the self-expression, the chance to get access to information and the convenience for information exchanges and a language revolution. Network has generated variant of the language and promoted the change of the human mind. Internet created an atmosphere that space and logic thinking can interact with each other. Also, The human mind was taken into a new era by Network’s openness, diversity, personalization and instructiveness. Currently, the Western linguists do this kind of research mainly from the perspective of lexicology, sociolinguistics and pragmatics to investigate the causes, significance, characteristics, forms, norms of Netspeak and Network Thinking. However, few scholars use the method and theory of semiotics systematically to explore the characteristics, create motivation and symbolic representation of the Netspeak’s influence on Network Thinking. Especially, researches on the interaction and relationship between Netspeak and Network Thinking are scarce. This thesis attempts to explore the symbolic representation of Netspeak’s influence on Network Thinking and Network Thinking’s reaction upon Netspeak. This study was expected to become a tentative supplementary to the network research on Language and Thinking.This thesis mainly based on the following two corpora: Firstly, the author observed by participating in discussing or diving to collect Netspeak from Internet Chat Rooms, Forums, Microblog, QQ, Wechat and so on. Secondly, the corpus mainly based on the Northwest Normal University Netspeak corpus which built and led by Professor Cao Jin in July 2014 including about 8000 terms till March 2015. In addition, The methodology used in this study is qualitative research method. The study will be carried out through processes of research design, data collection and data analysis.This thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter one presents a brisk sketch of the background, purpose, and significance of the study and the structure of the thesis. Chapter two presents a literature review regarding the researches on Netspeak and Network Thinking. Chapter three presents the theoretical frameworks for this study and gives a detailed presentation of Cultural Semiotics Theory, Symbolic Interaction Theory, Cultural Representation Theory and how they support the current study. Chapter four describes the methodology used in this study including research design, data collection and data analysis. Chapter five presents the detailed outcomes and analysis of the data, followed by a discussion of the results: The relationship between Language and Thinking; The growth of Netspeak and Network Thinking; Definition of Netspeak and Network Thinking; Close contaction between Netspeak and Network Thinking; The representation of Netspeak’s influence on Network Thinking; Network Thinking’s reaction upon Netspeak. Chapter six summarizes the findings and limitations of the current study and puts forward suggestions for further study. It emphasizes the coupling of the variety forms of thinking, reveals links of things from multi-angle view. Thus, the representation shows binary opposite characterizes such as: The Innovative Network Thinking and Convergent Network Thinking, The Collective Network Thinking and Individual Network Thinking, The Blending Network Thinking and Fragmenting Network Thinking. The people’s way of thinking has greatly promoted from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional, from flat to three-dimensional, from linear to non-linear, thus forming a typical “Network Thinking”. While the Network Thinking also has a negative impact: the multi-task processing and internet hyperlink made us easily distracted or absent-minded. In virtual space, it is difficult for Netizens to concentrate when they browsing web pages along with jumping, listening, chatting and accessing. In addition, Network Thinking also speeds up the creation, promotion and innovation of Netspeak, as well as leading the new trend of Netspeak.