A Pragmatic Study Of Internet Catchwords

The third wave of technology revolutionizes human society in every aspect and influences the development and change of language. The popularization of Internet provides a convenient platform for the people involving in the social affairs. Along with this trend, Internet catchwords are invented and spread widely.The author of this thesis analyzes Internet catchwords from the perspectives of Cooperative Principle and Politeness Principle. The Cooperative Principle is the rule guiding the formation of the conversation, while the Politeness Principle decides the course of the conversation by subconsciously influencing people's mind. In daily conversation, Internet catchwords do not absolutely conform to the Cooperative Principle, because people have to do it so that they can comply with the Politeness Principle. The two principles complement each other so well that they form a sound theoretical basis for the usage of Internet catchwords in the conversation. Meanwhile comparisons between conventional language and Internet catchwords are made to find the differences and effects.Internet catchwords under previous studies from pragmatic perspective have experienced a wide range of views. Studies from Cooperative Principle and Politeness Principle respectively have made for a period of time. However, few researchers throw their eyes on Internet catchwords from the perspectives of two complementary principles. In this thesis, analysis has been conducted from the perspective of Cooperative Principle and Politeness Principle. It will start from the analysis of Internet catchwords from Cooperative Principle. Internet catchwords of a conversation violate the four maxims: maxims of quality, maxims of quantity, maxims of relation and maxims of manner. By analysis, we find that Internet catchwords violate the maxims so as to get the conversational implicature and conform to the Politeness Principle. In this part, the author also divides Internet catchwords which form the conversation into cooperative or non-cooperative Internet catchwords. There are four conditions in detail. First, Internet catchword is cooperative both in form and content. Second, Internet catchword is non-cooperative both in form and content. Third, Internet catchword is cooperative in form but non-cooperative in content. Fourth, Internet catchword is non-cooperative in form but cooperative in content. By the analysis, a result is found. Whether an Internet catchword is cooperative or non-cooperative, the content should be taken good care of. If the content is cooperative, then Internet catchword is mostly like to be a cooperative one. Otherwise, it is a non-cooperative one. As people live in the society, they are confined by the conventional rules which are called the Politeness Principle, in most cases non-cooperative Internet catchword will present in cooperative form. After that, the author will discuss in detail how people conform to the Politeness Principle while violate the Cooperative Principle, when they use Internet catchword. The maxims of Politeness Principle are divided into: maxim of cost and benefit, maxim of praise and dispraise, maxim of seeking common ground. In the analysis, we use the theory of pragmatic distance for supplementing. Based on a more intimate relationship, people start from a closer pragmatic distance when using Internet catchwords. As a result, the requirement of politeness is reduced. That is why some impolite Internet catchwords are polite in some condition. Comparison between Internet catchwords and conventional language are made. Differences are found which include: making verbose words simple, making coarse words obscure, making formal words amusive and making hostile words humorous. As a widely-spread language variety, Internet catchword makes great influence on the society.The study has some significance theoretically and practically. First of all, the major findings in this study can provide new research perspectives for Internet catchword. Second, the findings in this study can be a great help for the related department in making policy about language. Third, the comparison of Internet catchword and conventional language can contribute to the study of the development of the language. Fourth, the study makes a basis for the study of language diversity.