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

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction.1

2. The differences between other words and oral catchwords.2

2.1 The differences between new words and oral catchwords

2.2 The differences between idiom and oral catchwords

2.3 The differences between mantra and oral catchwords

2.4 The differences between high frequency words and oral catchwords

3. Features of oral catchwords.3

3.1 Epidemic

3.2 Times

  3.3 Community

  3.4 High frequency

4. The transition of oral catchwords5 

5. Reasons of transition of English oral catchwords.6

6. Conclusion.7

Bibliography7

Acknowledgements.8