【精品】语言学论文 11页

ACP-basedAnalysisinVerbalHumorinAmericanSitcomeFriendsAbstractHumoristhemainpartofallcultures,languages,idiolectsandregistersofspeech.Howeverresearchonhumorinrecentyearsisfarfromdesirable.BasedonGrice'stheoryofCooperativePrincipleandespeciallytheviolationofthefourmaxims,thispaperfocusesonhowhumorisgenerallyproducedandachievedindailyconversationsthroughthespecificanalysisofverbalhumorinthefamousAmericansitcomeFriends,withtheaimofhelpingpeopletogetabetterunderstandingoftheverbalhumorinAmericansociallifeandtheaimofimprovingpeople'sawarenessandinterestinhumor.Keywords:VerbalHumor;CooperativePrinciple;Violation;Friends摘要幽默是所有文化、语言、语式的重要组成部分。然而近几年来对幽默的研究并没有受到重视。本文借助格莱斯的会话合作原则，从违反该原则的角度对美国喜剧《六人行》屮的言语幽默进行了实例分析，旨在阐述一般的言语幽默是如何产生和实现的。因而能帮助人们更好地理解美国社会中的言语幽默,提高人们的幽默意思，增强幽默的趣味性。\n关键词：言语幽默：合作原则；违背；《六人行》Chapter1IntroductionHumor,adispensablepartofculture,languageandregister,playsasignificantroleinpeopleddailylife.Ithelpstoreducetensionbyprovidinganoutlettoembosomournegativeemotionsratherthanleadthemoutinaprovocativeandviolentmanne匚Overthepastfewdecades,emphasisonthestudyofhumorisquitelimited.However,therearesomescholarsdoingtheresearchoverthenatureofthehumorandtherelationshipbetweenhumorandlinguistics,whichhaveactuallyshedlightonthepresentandfuturestudy.BasedonGrice^stheoryofCooperativePrincipleandespeciallytheviolationofthefourmaxims,thispaperfocusesonhowhumorisgenerallyproducedandachievedindailyconversationsthroughthespecificanalysisofverbalhumorinthefamousAmericansitcomeFriends.Itaimsathelpingpeopletounderstandhowhumorworksfromtheangleofpragmaticsandspeciallythatofthecooperativeprinciple.Thispaperismadeupoffourparts.Thefirstpartisanintroduction,whichgivesageneralideaofwhatthispaperisaboutandhowitisorganized.Thesecondpartinformsusoftheknowledgeontheoriesbackgroundandpreviousstudies.Itisconductedintothreesubparts:firstly,thecharacteristicsofhumor一-threetheories,whichrefertotheincongruitytheory,thehostilitytheoryandthereleasetheory;secondly,theimplicatureofcooperativeprinciple,whichstatesthattheconversationalimplicaturegeneratesoncecertainmaximofCPisconsciouslyorunconsciouslyfloutedandwhichisactuallythebasisofverbalhumor;thirdly,previousstudiesonhumorandCPamongthedomesticandforeignresearchers.Thethirdpartofthepaperisprobablythemostimportantandsignificantpartofthewholeessay,whichprovidesaspecificanalysisoftheverbalhumorinFriendsintermsofcooperativeprinciple.\nThelastpartmakesaconclusionofthepaperwhilesuggestingsomeareasforfurtherstudy.Chapter2TheoreticalBackgroundandPreviousstudies2.1CharacteristicsofHumor--threetheoriesTheultimatecauseormotivationofhumorhasbeentheconcernofovertwohundredtheoriesfromdifferentdisciplines(Holland,1982),mainlypsychology,philosophy,aestheticsandlinguistics.Acommonacceptedclassificationdividestraditionaltheoriesofhumorintothreegroups(Attardo,1994:47):theincongruitytheory,thehostilitytheory,andthereleasetheory.ThefirstauthorsgenerallyassociatedwiththeincongruitytheoryofhumorareKant(1724—1804)andSchopenhauer(1788—1860)withtheirdifferentdefinitionsofhumor.Inthistypeoftheory,humorinvolvessomekindofdifferencebetweenwhatoneexpectsandwhatonereceives,where"incongruity^referstoalargenumberofpossibilitieshiddenwithintermssuchas"inconsistent”，“notharmonious'；"lackingpropriety^and"non-conformingM.Anotherresearcher,Koestler(1993:683一684)summarizesthatallformsofhumorhavealogicalorintellectualstructure,involvingtheperceivingofasituationintwoself-consistentbutmutuallyincompatibleframesofreferenceorassociativecontexts.Peoplelaughbecausetheiremotionshaveagreatinertiaandpersistencethantheirthoughts;thethoughtsandemotionsfrequentlybecomedissociated;andtheemotiondesertedbythoughtisdischargedinlaughter.Thehostilitytheory(orthesuperioritytheory)datesbacktotheearliesttheoriesthatallmentionedthenegativeelementofhumor,itsaggressiveside(Attardo,1994:49).ThemostinfluentialproponentofthehostilitytheoryhasbeenBergson(quotedinAttardo,1994)，whoarguesthatpeoplealwayslaughat"somethinghumanM,at"inelasticity",at"rigidity”,whensomethingmechanicalisencrustedonsomethingthat\nisliving“•Finally,thetheoryofhostilityholdsthatlaughingatothersmakespeoplefeelsuperiorandmorecomfortableaboutthingstheymighteafraidof,suchasignorance,lackofpowerandcontrol,andinappropriatebehavior;indeed,toshowandenjoysuperiorityisusuallytheobjectiveof"put-dowrTandmostjokesaboutgender,raceandreligion(Hill,198:40).Thereleasetheorymaintainsthathumor“releases"tensions,psychicenergy,orthathumorreleasesonefi*ominhibitions,conventionsandlaws.ThemostinfluentialofthereleasetheoryisFreud(Attardo,1994:50),whowasemphasizestheliberationofone9simpulsesfromsocialconstraints,andnotone^sintellectfromtoonarrowapointofview.Thesethreeestablishedtypesoftheoriesfocusondifferentaspectsofthemotivationofhumor.Yetnoneofthemiscompletelyadequateinitself,whichhasactuallybeenstudiedforyearsasacontroversialissueofhowtoaccuratelydefinehumo匸2.1ImplicationofGricesCooperativePrincipleCooperativePrinciple,whichisaprincipleofconversation,wasfirstlyintroducedbyGriceinthelate20thcentury.AccordingtoGrice,hestatedthat“Makeyourcontributionsuchasisrequired,atthestageatwhichitoccurs,bytheacceptedpurposeordirectionofthetalkexchange/'(Grice1975:47)Hebelievedthatinordertoachievethepurposeofmutualunderstanding,therearetacitagreementandcooperationbetweenspeakersandhearers.Hetookitasafundamentalprinciple.TheCooperativePrincipleisconsistedoffourmaxims,calledtheGriceanmaxims.Themaximofquality:1Donotsaywhatyoubelievetobefalse;2Donotsaythatforwhichyoulackadequateevidence.\nThemaximofquantity:1Makeyourcontributionasinformativeasrequired;2Donotmakeyourcontributionmoreinformativethanrequired.Themaximofrelevance:Makeyourcontributionrelevant.Themaximofmanner:Beperspicuous,andspecifically:1Avoidobscurity2Avoidambiguities3Bebrief4BeorderlyThecooperativeprincipleismeanttodescribewhatactuallyhappensinconversationsratherthantellspeakershowtheyoughttobehave.Thatis,whenpeoplespeaktheygenerallyhavesomethingliketheCPanditsmaximsintheirmindtoguidethem.Theywilltrytosaythingswhicharetrue,relevant,aswellasinformativeenough,andinaclearmanner.Hearerswillalsotrytointerpretwhatissaidtotheminthisway,Butitdoesn'tmeanthattheCPanditsmaximsareobservedbyeveryspeakeratanytime.Aparticipantinatalkexchangemayfailtofulfillamaximinvariousways,whichcouldresultinwhatGricecalls"conversationalimplicature^.Theterm"implicature^isusedbyPaulGricetoaccountforwhataspeakercanimply，suggest,ormean,asdistinctfromwhatthespeakerliterallysays,byfloutingcertainmaximofCP.Concerningthemaximofquantity,GriceusesasanexampleanimaginedreferenceletterbyAfrohisformerstudentX,whoisapplyingforalectureshipinphilosophy,anditreads/9DearSir,X，scommandofEnglishisExcellent,andhisattendanceattutorialshasbeenregular.Yours,ect.MGricecommentsthat"Acannotbeoptingout,sinceifhewishedtobeuncooperative,whywriteatall?Hecannotbeunable,throughignorance,tosaymore,sincethemanishispupil;moreover,heknowsthatmoreinformationthanthisiswanted.Hemust,therefore,bewishingtoimportantinformationthatheisreluctanttowritedown.Thissuppositionistenableonlyothe\nassumptionthathethinksMr.Xsnogoodatphilosophy.This,then,iswhatheisimplicating"(Grice,1975).2.1RelatedStudyonHumorandCooperativePrincipleInrecentyears,manydomesticandforeignscholarshavepaidmuchattentiontohumor,andalsohavemadesignificantcontributiontoit.CooperativePrincipleisregardedasaguidetodoresearchonconversation.HuangTao(1993)gaveadviceonhowtooilinterpersonalrelationshipsbywayofhumorandsenseofhumorindifferentsituations.XuLinxin(2003)describedthatpleasureproducedbyhumorwasthemostdesirableelement,whetherhumoroccurredaccidentallyorwascreateddeliberately.Heproposedthatlaughterisoftenthecarrierofhumor.FanLina(2004)advisedthatCooperativePrinciplepossessedcertainuniversalityasaconversationalrule,andtheinterpretationandapplicationofitmaylargelydependondifferentculturalbackgrounds.WangFengqin(2008)triedanewresearchperspective,metonymicfunctionandscenarioconcepttostudyhowmetonymiclinkworkedintheinterpretationofhumorasacognitiveandmentalprocess・ChenYanchao(2008)proposedthathumorwasaspecialformofverbalcommunication,andheanalyzedthecharacteristicsandfunctionsofEnglishhumorinhiswork.Asfarasthepreviousstudiesareconcerned,thereisalongwayforustogotoprobeintothewayofunderstandinghumorspecificallyandaccurately.Chapter3ASpecificAnalysisofVerbalHumorinFriendsinTermsofCooperativePrinciple3.1AnOverviewofFriendsStudyonconversationaljokinginFriendsgenerallyrequiresacombinationofinteractionanalysisandethnography.Andknowledgeofthegroup,intermsoftheircharacteristicsandlifeexperience,willdefinitelyhelpustounderstandhowtheverbal\nhumorisproducedamongfriendslikethesixpeopleandhowhumoratmospherestrengthenstheirfriendshipinsteadofharmingeachotherevenwhenitgoestoofar.FriendsisacomedyaboutsixfriendslivinginNewYorkCity-一threemenandthreewomen.Thecomedyfollowsthesecharacters(Monica,Phoebe,Rachel,Ross,JoeyandChandler)throughupsanddownsofAmericanlife.Phoebewasanunselfishandbeautifulgirlwhowasalsothinkingaboutothers.In“Friends”shewasavegetarianandenvironmentalkeepe匸Joeywasfrustratedactorwhoaskindhearted,greedyandlascivious,butalsosolivelyinlife.Whenhesaid“Howareyoudoing"weknewthathebegantoseducegirlsthen.Hishandsomeoutlookingandsomechildishbehavioralwaysgaveusanemptyvaseimage,infacthewasntThemostrefreshingaspectofJoey^scharacterishisabilitytoenjoythesimplethings,bumblinghiswaythroughlife,nevertakingittooseriously.Rachelwasagirlwhowasusedtolivingwell.Howeverwhensheleftherfamilyandhadtomakealivingbyherself,shecouldgothroughthedifficultiesandgrewstrong.Sheissheltered,materialisticandselfish…loyal，funnyandcaring.It'snotalotofhigh・society.HerwackysensestyleofandhumorcoupledwithherrefreshinglyoptimisticviewoflifecombinetomakePhoebeoneofthebest-belovedcharactersofprimetime.Rosswasadoctorwhoworkedinamuseum・Andheisneurotic,cutestandknow-it-all.Hislovelyandboyishimageimpressedusdeeply.Monicaisanobsessivecompulsiveandverycompetitiveperson.Herneuroticismissomethingyoulovetohatewithherunderstandableinferioritycomplexandremarkableloyalty.AndthelastcharacterChandler'ssophisticationandsinceritymovedusdeeply.Heisprobablythefunniestofthethreeguysinthisshow.Hissarcasmcoupledwithhisromanticfolliesmakehimadorable・Andisaninterestingcontrasttohisobviousfinancialsuccess(whetherornotheactuallylikeshisjob)anddesiresforrelativenormalcy.\n3.2CooperativePrincipleandHumorinFriendsTheviolationoftheCooperativeprincipleanditsmaximsandtheymightproduceahumorouseffect.3.2.1.ViolationofthemaximofquantityAccordingtothemaximofquantity,moreinformationthanisrequiredisalsouncooperativeas"suchover-informativenessmaybeconfusinginthatitisliabletoraisesideissues;andtheremayalsobeanindirecteffect,inthatthehearersmaybemisledasaresultofthinkingthatthereisparticularpointintheprovisionoftheexcessofinformationfXGrice,1975).Inthenextexample,Chandlerisnervousaboutthehomestudybythesocialworkeroftheadoptioncente匚HetriestoshowwhatgoodparentsheandMonicawillbe,butheisalsoafraidthatwhathesaysmightbemisleading.Sohekeepstalking,whichonlymakesitworse.(1)Chandler:Oh,becausewelovekids.Lovethemtodeath・Well,notactuallytodeath,that^sjustafigureofspeech——welovekidstheappropriateamount...asallowedbylaw.322・ViolationofthemaximofqualityIntermsofthemaximofquality,peopleoftenmockothersbydeliberatelysayingsomethingtheydonotbelieveistrue.Forexample,inthefollowingepisodewhereallthe"friends，'plantobuylotterytogetherexceptRoss,whodoesnotbelieveinwinningmoneyfromlotterybecausethechancesaretoolow.Sohekeepsmakingfunoftheothersbysayingthingsthatareobviouslyimpossibletohappen.(2)Ross;Yeah,.-uh.••andthenIfiguredafteryouwin,wecouldallgoouttothebalconyandseeanightrainbowwithgremlinsdancingintopofit!(3)Ross:youknowwhat,Fmyourwishisgonnacometrue,but,youguys——justincase,maybeageniewillcomeoutifwerubthislamp...Similarly,inthefollowingepisodewhereJoeyfinishesawholeturkey,ChandlermakesfunofJoeyinaseriousvoice:(4)Monica:WellJoey,we7eall...weareallveryproudofyou.Chandler:Yes,Ibelievewecanexpectacallfromthepresidentany\nmomentnow.3..2.3.ViolationofthemaximofrelevanceAnexampleoftheviolationofthemaximofrelevanceis(5):(1)Ross:So,Ijustfinishedthisfascinatingbook・Bytheyear2030,there'llbecomputersthatcancarryoutthesameamountoffunctionsasanactualhumanbrain.Sotheoreticallyyoucoulddownloadyourthoughtsandmemoriesintothiscomputerand-and-andliveforeverasamachine.Chandler:AndIjustrealizedIcansleepwithmyeyesopen.Chandler^implicatureisquiteclear:heisnotinterestedinsuchabookatall.In(6),ChandlerandMonicaviolatethemaximofrelevanceatfirst.Thentheyseemtobecooperative,buteachactuallytriestogettheotherintotalkingabouthis/herownissue:(2)Monica:(Visiblyupset)ShepickedRachel.Imean,shetriedtobackoutofit,butitwasobvious.ShepickedRachel•Chandler:(Visiblyupset)Hetookmyjoke,hetookit.Monica:It9swrong.Youknowwhatelseiswrong?PhoebepickingRachel.Chandler:YouknowwhoelsepickedRachel?Ross,andyouknowwhatelseRossdid?Hestolemyjoke.Youknowwhat?Pmgoingtogetajokejournal.Youknow?Anddocumentthedateandtimeofeverysingleoneofmyjokes.ItisinterestingthatsometimestoobservetheCPanditsmaximswouldalsobringforthafunnyeffect.Thishappensbecausethesocialnormsmakepeopleviolatecertainmaximincertainsituations.Forexample,usuallypeopledonotpointoutothers5shortcomingsdirectly・Whentheydoso,itwouldbeoutoftheexpectation.Inthenextepisode,RachelhasworkedinthecoffeeshopCentralPerkfortwoandahalfyearsbutGunthertellshershewilltakethetrainingagain.Sheissurprisedlyangry.(3)Rachel:(ToChandler)Eh,doyoubelievethat?Chandler:(thinksaboutit)Yeah?\nHereChandlerissupposedtogiveanegativeanswereventhoughhedoesthinkRachelisbadwaitressandneedstobetrainedagain.Anotherexample(8),ChandlerdoesnotwanttogetinvolvedinthetriangleissueamongDavid,PhoebeandMike,butDavidkeepsaskingforadvices.Chandlertriestobecooperativebutfinallycannotstanditanymore・(1)David:(Afterawhile.)HowdoyouthinkIshouldpropose?Chandler:David,Fmpretendingtoreadhere!3.2.4.ViolationofthemaximofmannerAnexampleoftheviolationofthemaximofmanner(Avoidobscurity)isasfollows:(2)Rachel:allright.What'syournews,Amy?Amy:Oh!.Um…WelL.I'mgettingmarried.Rachel:what?OhmyGod!Towho?Amy:Thisguy!Peoplewouldnormallyexpectawomantomarrya"guy”.SothatcouldnotbewhatRachelreallyexpectstohear.AmyhasobviouslynotprovidedenoughinformationtohersisterRachelitturnsoutthatitisanoldmanandAmydoesnotreallycareabouthim.Sheonlywantshisgreatapartment.Chapter4ConclusionBasedonthepreviousstudiesandGrice'sCooperativePrincipleaswellastheaboveanalysisonthedatafrompopularAmericansitcomeFriends^whoselanguageisup-to-dateandsimilartothoseinnaturalsettings,itcanbeconcludedthatitmayleadtotheelicitationofhumorwithviolatinganynormsofGrice"sCooperativePrinciple.Verbalhumorisdominatedbythepurposeandstipulationsoftheconversation.Whenthenormsbeingviolatedortheintentionofthespeakerinvolvinginthecommunicationisnotclearenough,thehearersmustinferitonthebasisofwhatthespeakersays.Atthesametime,becauseoftheintentionalorunintentionalviolationoftheseprinciples,plusthereasonforlackingofconsensusofcontextureofbothsides,\ntheconversationislikelypronetohaveunintendedhumorouseffects.However,ashumorisculturallyandgeographicallydifferent,itisexpectedthatresearchersstrivetofinddifferenthumorstylesindifferentcountries,languagesandgroups.Inaddition,factorsthatinfluenceaperson'shumorsuchaspersonality,age,gender,educationalbackgroundandoccupationalsolookforwardtobeingstudied.Bibliography[1]XieXiaohong・EnglishandChineseVerbalHumorsBasedontheViolationofCooperativePrinciple[J].SchoolofForeignLanguages,JiayingUniversity.[2]Attardo,Salvatore.LinguisticTheoriesofHumor[M].BerlinandNewYork:MoutondeGruyter,1994.[3JinXin.AStudyofConversationalJokingandGenderinSitcomeFriends[JJ