Memes pluralistas práticas linguístico-midiáticas em fenômenos bilíngues: um estudo sistêmico-funcional e multimodal sobre propagação via corpora digitais

Abstract

This study investigated whether the conception present in the Replicator´s Theory, expressed through the concept of meme (DAWKINS, 1979), could be a compatible model to be transducted and feasible to explain the propagation of memes in the substratum of social media. In the scope of local studies, Recuero (2006) suggested a model for such transduction. Reflecting on Recuero´s epistemological positioning, the present Linguistics-oriented research (HALLIDAY, 1987) examined the author´s (2006) transduction through two investigative steps: Conceptual and Compositional Analysis, respectively. Those two investigative steps followed the conceptions presented by Dennett (1995), Blackmore (2002), and Tyler (2011b; 2013b). By departing from the concept of memeplex (BLACKMORE, 2002), this work understands memes, in the substratum of digital/social media, as practices of production and distribution through language and media. Moving to a third investigative step Relational Analysis this study investigated the relations and connexions created by internet users whilst they spread memetic phenomena through several unities of propagation, i.e.: the local phenomena´s memetic expressions (from #Tenso and Que deselegante ), and the memetic images (from Nana em desastres ). This research used two corpora of memetic expressions (5275 posts coming from or forwarded to Twitter.com 83,655 tokens), and one bilingual corpus (Portuguese/English) of memetic images (a total of 134 images coming from Tumblr.com and Facebook.com). To analyse the corpora of memetic expressions this investigation used the methodology of Corpus Linguistics (BERBER-SARDINHA, 2004; SHEPHERD, 2009; SOUZA JÚNIOR, 2012, 2013b, 2013c). To examine the multimodal corpus of memetic images this study suggested a methodology called Propagatory Analysis. The aim of this research was to investigate if those units of propagation and the linguistic/media practices they transmit, evolved only via memetic/media aspects, and presenting an internalist pattern of propagation (DAWKINS, 1979; 1982), as Recuero (2006) argued. The findings of the present study suggested that, at the purpose level, the local phenomena investigated didn´t evolve through an internalist (or homogeneous) pattern of propagation. Those patterns were of externalist (heterogeneous) nature. Furthermore, the memetic constitutive principles of evolution such as fecundity , longevity (DAWKINS, 1979; 1982), along with the media constitutive principle of reach (RECUERO, 2006) have been highly influential over propagations of externalist pattern. Conversely, the memetic constitutive principle of fidelity (DAWKINS, 1979; 1982) was the least influential in such externalist patterns of propagation. Fidelity was undermined by two linguistic constitutive principles that emerged, empowered by the principle of design (DENNETT, 1995). Firstly, appeared the linguistic constitutive principle of functionality (memes evolve because they can express different purposes), followed by the principle of linguistic reach (memes can address animate/inanimate items; and Internet users in their native or foreign languages)