1.2 Research Questions

(1) Do these Internet buzzwords correspond to conventional theories of pragmatics?

(2) What features do they have in communication that account for their popularization?

1.3 Research Significance

The study on the Top 10 Internet buzzwords from pragmatics perspective is significant and several reasons can be given as the explanation.

First of all, the necessity of studying these Internet buzzwords can be justified by the typical role these words play in the massive Internet buzzwords in 2017. They must, to some extent, have distinct features in communication that people give preference to them. A study on them from the pragmatic perspectives helps uncover the potential features in Internet buzzwords, thus guide people to learn how to communicate better in daily life.

Then, as language is always entitled “the carrier of social culture”. The research on it helps people not only have a better recognition of social life but the whole country as well. Additionally, the evolution of a language also reflects the changes in speakers’ life, their mental tendency and societal culture. Therefore, a study to examine whether the communication patterns on the Internet is beneficial or not may help find the potential social problems. In this way, prompt measures or resolutions will be taken in time. 

Third, the research provides a deeper understanding of Internet buzzwords, which facilitates the relevant policy and rule making. Besides, this research can be taken as one of references for later study in this area and promote more scholars contributing to it.

1.4 Thesis Organization

The main content of this thesis comprises of three parts. The first part is literature review, which contains the definition of Internet buzzwords, characteristics of Internet Buzzwords and the study of Internet buzzwords at home. The second part is the theoretical basis of this thesis. A sound introduction to the cooperative principle and politeness principle is presented. Then, the third part mainly discusses the analysis of the top 10 Internet buzzwords in 2017 from perspective of cooperative principle and politeness principle. Besides, a much more comprehensive analysis will be presented at last.