Introduction
1.1 Background
The spread of the internet has transformed communication patterns radically, bringing new linguistic variations and cultural manifestations into being. The point where language, humor, and the online community meet laid this path on which memetic phrases emerged: shared expressions with humorous or meaning dimmed by context. These internet expressions are fundamental in forming the nature and identity of online talks and communities.
1.2 Observation
After a thorough analysis of user interactions and content on the Chinese online video platform Bilibili, there is an understandable distinction made concerning memetic phrases. This means these linguistic constructs go beyond traditional normative linguistics and become a vernacular specific to the Bilibili community because each of them sounds humorous, brief, and in tune with contextual situations (Allen, 2022). The core of these memetic phrases is to capture common meanings, creating a unique dialect in the context of the platform that people can relate to.
This particular changeability of this phenomenon is notable, as memetic phrases keep being used and adapted to dynamics in the Bilibili ecosystem. Users continuously contribute to the reservoir of memetic utterance, sculpting and repeatedly recurving its boundaries (Li & Juffermans. 2011). This ephemeral aspect highlights the flexibility and resilience of online linguistic processes, which makes it crucial to understand how these expressions arise, spread, and mutate in Bilibili’s virtual environment.
1.2.2 Variations in the Phenomenon
It is also interesting to note that there are notable distinctions in the application of memetic phrases across various user groups, such as virtual environment users on Bilibili. Such intervariations may originate from contextual factors, user demographic discrepancies as well and the rhythms of online subcultures. These differences contribute to understanding the variety of aspects that form an integral part of using memetic language for this online community (Maly, 2017). Thus, notions such as context-dependent adaptations and demographic nuances could influence how users adopt word fragments that might help to understand how socio-cultural development affects the Bilibili community’s linguistic situation.
Literature Review
2.1 Bloomaert
The concept proposed by the Bloomaert light community is a fundamental analytical method that helps to understand the dynamics of internet interactions, particularly on Bilibili. This cultural landscape is shaped by light communities, which are comprised of factors such as loosely linked groups of people with shared interests or individuals active in particular online activities.
2.1.1 Light Communities
Bilibili is a lively, colorful digital world in which organic light communities emerge on the basis of shared interests or hobbies and fan groups. Therefore, this dynamic and knowledge-concentrated space is an optimal environment for the incubation of various emerging digital subcultures. In the Bilibili large universe, people meet around different interests— gaming, anime, and technology but also literature, art, or minor streams. Blommaert (2017c). Such light communities act as virtual centers where enthusiasts united by a particular interest or obsession congregate to discuss ideas, offer feedback, and form an integral part of the cultural fabric of the platform.
Light communities are defined by the active involvement of their members. With that shared enthusiasm, users consume content and participate in continuing discussions and creative efforts within their chosen community (Wu, 2020). Conversations take place in comments, forums, and shared content creation networks, and having an identity as a member of the community is essential.
Light communities in Bilibili usually go beyond geographical confines, leading to cultural exchange internationally. The community benefits from a richness of perspectives and cultural differences brought by the members – for every member is different. According to Hagen & de Zeeuw (2023), memetic phrases, as linguistic artifacts, act as cultural conduits for these interactions, enabling users to bond over shared humor and references that go beyond language and culture. Revealing the elements of these light communities is necessary to understand the multilayered character of internet memetic phrases disseminated throughout Bilibili’s universe. Memetic expression is not a solitary phenomenon; on the contrary, it occurs within the social networks of these societies. The role of memetic phrases is to unify all the light communities by tagging each community as a group with shared heritage and bond.
For the most part, light communities on Bililbi motivate users to not only absorb content but also create it using their contributions and influence the formulation of cultural surroundings. Therefore, these cultures become nestlings of imagination, jest, and shared sensibilities that memetic phrases not only inspire this excellent community spirit but also leave a trace of each individual enclave on the extensive Bilibili landscape.
2.1.2 Language-Individual-Group
Bloomaert’s language-individual-group model is one of the necessary analytical tools for revealing the mechanisms underlying memetic words in such light communities as Bilibili. This framework shows that language use is a nexus and not an isolated case but a communal way of interaction. Users in the Bilibili community do not work independently when they accept or build memetic phrases. Instead, they are guided by the communal nature of Their language, which becomes an identity for this group. This structure forces to think about the role group dynamics play for emergence, change and diffusion of memetic expressions on Bilibili.
The applicability of Bloomaert’s framework becomes apparent when the analysis focuses on adoption and diffusion memetic phrases in Bilibili community. As per Blommaert (2017b), light societies borrow memetic phrases that often capture cultural elements and collective memories as their means of communicating. Participants inhabit an everyday cultural world, bent on transforming and redefining the realm of language by working in concert via the collective appropriation and alteration of memetic units.
The discussion of the socio-linguistic dynamics of memetic phrase adoption is informed by Bloomaert’s showcase. We analyze how these expressions go beyond individual language choices and demonstrate the collective identity created through Bilibili’s light communities. This means that the researcher can understand how individual creativity, linguistic features, and group behavior interact in the continuously changing picture of internet memetic culture on Bilibili.
2.2 Molly – Micropopulation
Molly’s study of micropopulation inside online communities increases the complexity of our research regarding internet memetic phrases, most notably on the Bilibili website. These distinctions would be evident in her insights, for example, the authenticity vs. fake members and being involved in micropopulations, light communities, and cliques.
- 2.1 Authentic vs. Fake Member Dynamics
As Molly divides authentic and fake members within virtual communities, several consequences are relevant to our interpretation of internet memetic phrases on Bilibili appear. According to Lankshear & Knobel (2019), contributions initiated by authentic members comprise of real content, and they work to create a conducive environment. On the other hand, there would be trolling and dissemination of misinformation by fake members which are destructive behaviors.
It is hence at this point where understanding this dichotomy becomes very critical when analyzing the dominance of memetic phrases. Authentic members may be significant contributors to the growing and spreading of healthy, culturally appropriate memetic phrases while fake ones could have a detrimental effect on the platform (Maly & Varis,2015). The study of Bilibili memetic phrases requires understanding how these needs facilitate the emergence, spread, and movement of different groups in communities.
2.2.2 Polycentric Nature
Molly’s theory about the polycentricity of online communities opens up a new way to understand different memetic language sources on Bilibili. There is a factor of polycentrism in Bilibili, setting as a result of the diverse range of users on who participate in various activities and create unique groups. This implies that memetic phrases are topics that are generated by various hubs of activity within the broader Bilibili community. The researchers’ efforts should be concentrated on those distinct settings where memetic phrases occur, revealing the ways in which different subgroups contribute to Bilibili as a whole through their shared contributions. The polycentric approach offers a more sophisticated understanding of the cultural significance of internet memetic culture by allowing observation of the multitude of factors that shape it.
2.2.3 Differences Flanked by Micropopulations, Light Communities, and Cliques
Molly’s insights into micropopulations, light communities and cliques provide a helpful structure for examining memetic phrase diffusion in Bilibili social groups. Memetic phrases are produced and accepted by micropopulations, which can be defined as more intricate subgroups. As mentioned by Vásquez & Aslan (2021), the broad light communities, reflecting universal interests serve a fatter media for diffusion of memetic phrases and closed clique’s influences on niche or specialized cultures. Finding such variations permits scientists to define how memetic phrases circulate through the complicated social composition of Bilibili. These social formations have a rich and diverse memetic scenery thanks to various interactions under the platform.
References
Allen, C. M. (2022). Memeing and meaning: an examination of internet memes as linguistic units.
Blommaert, J. (2017b). Durkheim and the Internet: On sociolinguistics and the sociological imagination. Tilburg Papers in Culture Studies, Paper 173.
Blommaert, J. (2017c). Society through the lens of language: A new look at social groups and integration. Tilburg Papers in Culture Studies, Paper 178.
Hagen, S., & de Zeeuw, D. (2023). Based and confused: Tracing the political connotations of a memetic phrase across the web. Big Data & Society, 10(1), 20539517231163175.
Lankshear, C., & Knobel, M. (2019). Memes, macros, meaning, and menace: Some trends in internet memes. The Journal of Communication and Media Studies, 4(4), 43.
Li, J. & K. Juffermans. (2011). Multilingual Europe 2.0: Dutch-Chinese youth identities in the era of super-diversity, Working Papers in Urban Language and Literacies, 71.
Maly, I. & P. Varis. (2015). The 21st-century hipster: On micro-populations in times of super-diversity. European Journal of Cultural Studies 19(6), 1–17.
Maly, I. (2017). Saabism and Saabists: A digital ethnographic analysis of Saab culture. Tilburg Papers in Culture Studies, Paper 188.
Vásquez, C., & Aslan, E. (2021). “Cats be outside, how about meow”: Multimodal humor and creativity in an internet meme. Journal of Pragmatics, 171, 101-117.
Wu, X. (2020). “Seven Mouths Eight Tongues”: Interpretive Community and Ritual Practice in the Online Video Website Bilibili. The University of Iowa.
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