Abstract:

This thesis conducts a research on Internet buzzwords from the perspective of memetics. Firstly, this thesis elaborates the definition and existed studies of Internet buzzwords. Secondly, this thesis will give a detailed introduction about origin, definition and present studies of meme both at home and abroad. Thirdly, the relationship between meme and language, and memetic phenomenon in Internet buzzwords will be analyzed; the reasons why Internet buzzwords are strong memes and the way of replication and transmission of Internet buzzwords will be explained as well. Finally, this thesis will try to find out the characteristics of successful Internet buzzwords memes and the impacts of Internet memes on our daily life.

Key words:  memetics; internet buzzwords; strong meme; replication; transmission

摘要：

本文从模因论的视角研究网络流行语，论文首先对网络流行语的定义和现有研究作全面阐释；其次详细介绍模因的起源、定义与国内外关于模因的现有研究；分析模因与语言的关系和网络流行语中的模因现象；解释网络流行语成为强势模因的原因, 和其复制传播的方式 ；最后，探讨成功的网络流行语模因所具备的特点及其对社会生活所带来的影响。

关键词： 模因论；网络流行语；强势模因；复制；传播

1. Introduction
With the rapid development of the Internet technology during the last few decades, the Internet has become an increasingly important part in our daily life. On the November of 28th of 2013, Xinhua News Agency reported that the number of Chinese netizens has increased to 604 million by the end of September. As China becomes the world’s largest country of Internet users, more and more people tend to communicate and distribute their ideas and thoughts through the Internet.
The Internet language acting as a new language is created in the context of the Internet culture. Its rapid development has great impacts on real life and draws widely public concern. With gradually deepening the study on the Internet language, another emerging language phenomenon has become a focus of people—Internet buzzwords. Internet buzzwords can be produced by the accurate replication and prompt transmission from Internet communication.