Abstract:

As a kind of catchwords, oral catchword is the word used in conversations in people’s daily life. In recently years, scholars have carried on various researches of catchwords, while the study of oral catchword is rare. This paper analyzes the distinctions of oral catchwords and other words by comparing the oral catchwords in different periods, including new words, idiom, mantra and high frequency words, the production and features of oral catchwords. It also illustrates the interactions of oral catchwords and social change, and forecasts the change trend of oral catchwords.

Key words: oral catchwords; differences; features; transition,reasons

摘要：

口语流行语作为流行语的一个种类，是人们日常生活中口头交谈时使用的语言。近几年，国内外学者对流行语的研究有很多。但是对其中的英语口语流行语的研究比较少见。本文通过比较不同时期的口语流行语，分析口语流行语和其他词的区别（包括新词语，俗语，高频词，口头禅），口语流行语的产生﹑特点及其变化的原因，透视口语流行语与社会变化的相互作用和变迁。

关键词: 口语流行语；区别；特点；变迁；变迁原因

1. Introduction
Although researches about English catchwords started from 1990s in foreign countries, it hasn’t got a uniform definition until today. English lexicographer Eric Partridge pointed out “What is the catchword” in the Eric Partridge in His own Words. He thinks catchword is the idiom that people love to see. English scholar H. W. Flower has a further research on the definition of catchwords. Honorary professor, University of Georgia English Algeo, John expounded the generation of catchwords in recent 50 years in the thesis 50 Years among the New Words. Collins English-Chinese Dictionary (2008) defines catchwords as a word or phrase that becomes popular or well-known, for example, because it is associated with a political campaign. In Modern Chinese Dictionary (2006), it is defined the widely and popular words in a period time. In The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, English catchword refers to the word used widely and more common to see, especially used in the slogan for a group.