An Analysis Of The Functions Of English And Chinese Memetic Catchwords From Functional Grammar

Catchwords are the language customarily used during a certain period, in a place, or in some language communities(or among individuals). As an important language phenomenon, catchwords reflect the changes and developments of society, so it is an indispensable part of language. From the perspective of language structure, catchwords can be word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, or discourse. In terms of language style, catchwords can be slogan, proverb, advertising motto, and aphorism and so on.Meme is the term first proposed by Richard Dawkins in his The Selfish Gene written in 1976, referring to a replication factor similar to gene. From memetic perspective, some language forms are frequently imitated and replicated as linguistic memes, creating new language forms.Memetic catchwords discussed in this thesis are produced by means of imitating and replicating some linguistic memes, which can be divided into two types. One is memetic catchwords produced by means of replicating the linguistic meme which is based on a whole catchword; the other type is memetic catchwords replicated by linguistic meme which is based on some part of a catchword. Because linguistic meme itself contains abundant cultural connotations, social meanings and values and so on, linguistic meme have important language functions. Halliday’s theories of functional grammar are applied in this thesis to analyze the specific textual function, interpersonal function and ideational function of linguistic meme and its formation cause.The textual function of linguistic meme in memetic catchwords is to convey message, strengthen the stability and continuity of the information chain, and highlight the core information of memetic catchwords. In the process of achieving textual function, linguistic meme can act as Theme or Rheme to achieve or enhance the stability and solidity of information chain. In information structure, linguistic meme are always fixed in catchwords as given information, making new information variable so as to replicate more catchwords on the basis of linguistic meme. Besides, some parts of linguistic memes often function as cohesive words to strengthen the coherence of the information chain.The ideational function of linguistic meme in memetic catchwords is to convey corresponding concepts and express the experience of different types. Linguistic meme can belong to different processes, ensuring different expressions of the basic concept. Meanwhile, in the memetic catchwords of nominal groups, linguistic meme always functions as “Thing”and is fixed in the whole catchwords, making “Epithet” variable. The combination of these two promotes the experience expression of different types.The interpersonal function of linguistic meme in memetic catchwords is to convey the evaluation and attitudes of both speaker’s and listener’s towards things. Linguistic meme can be the subject and finite element of mood structure and their order variation forms indicative mood, yes-no interrogative mood or WH-interrogative mood. Besides, linguistic meme can be the operator contained in tense, voice and modality, which largely promotes the realization of interpersonal function of memetic catchwords.Besides, this research also shows that the popularity of memetic catchwords origins from two main reasons. One is that linguistic meme fully reflects people’s idea of society and culture, so people’s values can be expressed and reflected. The other is that linguistic meme, usually in a fixed form, always combines with the other parts of catchword, which means that linguistic meme has a very strong replicability and is easier to be accepted and approved.