Internet Meme: Origin, Definition and Research Approaches

Introduction. The article analyzes various approaches to studying Internet memes as key elements of modern media communication. It highlights the need for a comprehensive description of memes, considering their continuous evolution. Methodology and sources. The study is based on works in cognitive linguistics, philosophy, and media communications, focusing on the evolution and function of memes. The research employs an analytical review of literature on meme definition, typology, and roles in sociocultural and online communication. Results and discussion. Research in memetics and media communication emphasizes the importance of distinguishing “meme” from “Internet meme”, as the latter represents a polycode text within the broader concept of memes. Internet memes play a key role in reflecting linguistic and cultural changes but remain difficult to classify due to their variability. Effective study methods include digital, visual, and discourse analysis, along with construction grammar, to account for their multimodal nature. A significant research focus is the development of meme typologies based on their functions in political, advertising, scientific, and everyday discourse, as well as their continuously evolving formation trends." Conclusion. The prospects for studying Internet memes include conceptualization of intertextuality and examining the mechanisms of meme reutilization. The rapid variability of the verbal and non-verbal components of Internet memes, the high frequency use of intertextual references and intentionally distorted lexical and grammatical structures make it relevant to study the functioning of intertext and the formation of productive models and language patterns in Internet memes.

Authors: Maria S. Sigaeva, Natalia V. Stepanova

Direction: Linguistics

Keywords: media discourse, polycode text, meme, internet meme, memetics

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