A Cognitive Study Of Chinese Four-syllable Netspeak Neologisms From The Perspective Of Conceptual Blending Theory

Internet language originates from the advancement of modern society. With the increasing number of netizens who make the most of netspeaks in various communication media like Weibo, face book, QQ and post bar, the users of netspeaks continue to expand even to the extent that some netspeak neologisms are used by almost all the people. As an indispensable part of Chinese netspeak neologisms, the study of Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologisms is of great significance for the research of netspeaks. The focus of the previous studies on Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologisms has been on their word formation characteristics, creation background and reasons, etc. This thesis attempts to make a systematic explanation to the meaning construction of Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologisms from a cognitive perspective adopting Conceptual Blending Theory.Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologisms features diversity in word-formation, integrity and clarity in content, readability in rhythm and conciseness in form. Concerning the ways of word formation, the Chinese four-syllable words are classified into two levels as compositional type and non-compositional type. Compositional type holds the great proportion in Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologisms, including compounded model and abbreviated model. Compounded model can be further grouped into five sub-types:Noun+Noun, Noun+Verb, Verb+Noun, Verb+Verb and Adjective+Noun. The homonym model and parody model belong to non-compositional type.Under the guidance of Conceptual Blending Theory, the meaning construction of Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologism is probed in a cognitive way. By using the four basic integration networks:simplex network, mirror network, single-scope network and double-scope network, we makes an analysis of the online meaning construction of Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologism and make use of the input spaces, generic spaces, mappings, projections and emergent structures in the networks to expound the construction of the cognitive models of Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologism. It has been found that the two spaces which are similar or relevant can be combined together to form the generic space, and what leads to the integration of two concepts and the generation of the new meaning in the blended space is blending and hapbbgy. Blending integrates two similar but irrelevant concepts while hapbbgy integrates two related but different concepts. The approaches of integration and the types of integration networks involved in the process of the meaning construction of Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologism vary from the classes. Compositional type is integrated by the hapbbgy while non-compositional type by the blending. Besides, Noun+Noun, Verb+Noun, Noun+Verb, Verb+Verb and homonym model adopt the double-scope network. Adjective+Noun is suitable for the single-scope network, and the abbreviated model applies for the simplex work and the parody model can be explained with the mirror network.This thesis is of value not only for the systematic study of Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologisms but also for the discovery of their characteristics in semantic construction and structure. Moreover, it has revealed the strong power of Conceptual Blending Theory in meaning construction in the field of linguistics. It is helpful to improve the ability for understanding Chinese four-syllable netspeak neologisms. Finally, it also can promote the development of interdisciplinary studies like translation and Chinese teaching for foreign students.