On-Verbal-Humor-in-the-American-Soap-Opera-Friends英语专业论文

PAGEPAGE18中国某某某某学校学生毕业设计(论文)题目：OnVerbalHumorintheAmericanSoapOperaFriends姓名：0000000000班级、学号：0000000000系(部)：经济管理系专业：商务英语指导教师：000000开题时间：2009-4-10完成时间：2009-10-272009年10月27日目录毕业设计任务书…………………1毕业设计成绩评定表……………2答辩申请书……………………3-4正文……………5-19答辩委员会表决意见……………20答辩过程记录表…………………21课题OnVerbalHumorintheAmericanSoapOperaFriends课题(论文)提纲0.引言1.关于幽默1.1幽默语言的学习1.2合作原则和会话含义的介绍2.分析幽默语在情景喜剧《老友记》里的运用2.1量的准则2.2质的准则2.3关系准则2.4方法准则3.关于幽默语的讨论4.结论二、内容摘要美国情景喜剧《老友记》中的言语幽默在一定程度上阻碍了英语学习者对该喜剧的欣赏。本文以语用学的合作原则和会话含义理论为基础，从幽默会话对合作原则及其次准则的蔑视现象以及幽默会话中的隐含意义两个方面对美国情景喜剧《老友记》中的言语幽默进行了探讨,并分析了《老友记》中的言语幽默效果。本研究有助于提高英语学习者欣赏该喜剧，同时提高学习者理解美式幽默的能力。参考文献[1]何兆熊主编.新编语用学概要[M].上海.上海外语教育出版社.1999.

[2]何自然.语用学与英语学习[M].上海.上海外语教育出版社.1997.

[3]胡范铸.幽默语言学[M].上海.上海社会科学院出版社.1987.

[4]刘乃实.试析幽默的语用合作原则[J].清华大学研究教育.2002(2):143-147.

[5]毛荣贵.英语幽默语言赏析[M].上海.上海社会科学院出版社.1993.

[6]吴清.合作原则和情景喜剧中的幽默[J].江南大学学报.2005(2).107-110.OnVerbalHumorintheAmericanSoapOperaFriends00000000Abstract:TheverbalhumorinthefamousAmericansoapoperaFriends,toacertaindegree,preventstheEnglishlearnersfromappreciatingthesoapoperaeffectively.Thisthesis,basedonCooperativePrinciple(CP)andConversationalImplicationTheory,analyseshowverbalhumorfloutseachofthefourCooperativePrinciplesandhowtounderstandtheimpliedmeaningbehindthehumorousconversations.Meanwhile,theeffectsofverbalhumorareillustratedindetails.ThestudyissuretohelpEnglishlearnerstoappreciatethesoapoperaandimprovetheirabilityinunderstandingtheAmericanhumor.Keywords:verbalhumor；Friends；cooperativeprinciple；conversationalimplication0·Introduction

TheAmericansoapoperaFriendsisoneofthemostfamousandwelcomeinAmericaandintheworldforitsuniqueconversationalhumor.TheverbalhumorinFriendsisthetypicalhumorwithAmericancharacteristics,whichsometimesishardfornon-nativeEnglishspeakerstounderstand.Hence,detailedpragmaticanalysisoftheverbalhumorinFriendsishelpfultoimproveEnglishlearners’understandingandappreciationofthenatureofAmericanhumor.Atthesametime,itisilluminatingtoapplyhumorskillstomediateinterpersonalrelationships.1·Abouthumor

1·1studiesonhumor

Inrecentyears,anincreasingamountofstudiesonhumorhascaughttheattentionofscholarsathomeandabroad.However,thesestudiesdiscusshumoralwaysfrompsychologicalorlinguisticangles.

WalterNashconsidersthat“thehumorofpsychologicalandsocialsatireisexpressedtoaverygreatextentthroughtheflawsandconnectionsofspeechacts,thecontractualfailuresofpartiestoconversation”.Hepointsouthumorousconversationsoccurbecause“thoseexchangesviolatethemaximsof‘ordinary’conversation,asformulatedinawell-knownpaperbyH.P.Grice”.ChineseProfessorMaoRongguistudieshumorfromlinguisticview.Hedivideshumorouslanguageintotwotypes:rhetoricalhumorandnon-rhetoricalhumor.AccordingtothestudyofProfessorMao,therhetoricalhumorisproducedthroughusingvarioustropes,includingoxymoron,transferredepithet,zeugma,anticlimax,pun,irony,parody,paradox,andthenon-rhetoricalhumoriscreatedbylexicaldeviationanddeviationofregister.

Besides,manyscholarsinChinahavedoneresearchesonhumorbasedonpragmatictheories.However,thestudiesinthisfieldhavenotreachedthestageofmaturity,andtheyareratherinsufficientorlackofauthorityinChina,letalonethepragmaticstudiesonthehumorousconversationsinAmericansitcomsFriendssinceitjustcameintobeinginthe1990s.1.2ThecooperativeprincipleandconversationalimplicationThestudiesonthehumorinFriendsareratherinsufficientasitbecamepopularinChinajustinthe1990sothatthestudiesinthisfieldstillhavealongwaytoreachthestageofmaturity.Inthiscase,thisthesisismadetoresearchandfocusesonexplainingtherelationshipbetweentheverbalhumorandtheCooperativePrincipletoshowthewaysinwhichtheverbalhumorintheAmericansoapoperaFriendsfloutsthefourprinciples,thehumorouseffectistriggeredandtheimpliedmessagebehindthehumorisconveyed.

HerecomestoGrice’sCooperativePrincipleandhisconversationalimplicationtheory.Gricesuggeststhat“thereisasetofover-archingassumptionsguidingtheconductofconversation.Thesearise,itseems,frombasicrationalconsiderationsandmaybeformulatedasguidelinesfortheefficientandeffectiveuseoflanguageinconversationtofurtherco-operativeends”.Hisideaisthatinordertocarryonthetalktheparticipantsmustbewillingtocooperativeinmakingconversation.Participantsinconversationhavetheobligationtogiveadequateandaccurateinformation,andtomakerelevantresponses.Griceidentifiesasguidelinesfourbasicmaximsofconversation,calledtheCooperativePrinciple,orCPforshort.Theyareintroducedasfollows:Theco-operativeprinciple

Makeyourcontributionsuchasisrequired,atthestageatwhichitoccurs,bytheacceptedpurposeordirectionofthetalkexchangeinwhichyouareengaged

Theprincipleofquality

Trytomakeyourcontributiononthatistrue,specifically:

a.donotsaywhatyoubelievetobefalse

b.donotsaythatforwhichyoulackadequateevidence

Theprincipleofquantity

a.makeyourcontributionasinformativeasisrequiredforthecurrentpurposesoftheexchange

b.donotmakeyourcontributionmoreinformativethanisrequired

Theprincipleofrelevance

Makeyourcontributionsrelevant

Theprincipleofmanner

Beperspicuous,andspecifically:

a.avoidobscurity

b.avoidambiguity

c.bebrief

d.beorderly

2·AnalysisofhumorinFriends

TherearealargenumberofhumorousdialoguesinFriends.Therefore,thehumorousdialogueshadtobeclassifiedaccordingtothefactororthereasonofcreatinghumor.Thosethatfloutfourprincipleswerechosentobeexplainedindetails.

HumorisusuallycausedbythedeliberateviolationoftheCPbyparticipantsoftheconversation.Differentfromdailyconversation,humoristheembodimentofwisdom.Itisjocularandwittyandusuallymakespeoplelaughing.Onecharacteristicofhumoristhatthelanguageusedinitisimplicit.Itisnotinastraightforwardwaytoexpressideasorputforwardsomecriticizingorcomplainingcomments.Besides,itdisclosesthingsorideaswhichareabsurdorunreasonableinatactfulandimplicitway.Peoplekeepthinkingandinferring,andtrytograsptheintendedmeaningandunderlyingmessagethroughthelanguageofhumor.2.1TheprincipleofqualityBytheprincipleofquality,itismeantthatinadialoguewealltrytomakeourcontributiontoonethingthatistrueorsaythingsthataretrue.Tokeeptothisprinciple,wesimultaneouslyobservetwosub-principles:wedonotsaywhatwebelievetobefalse,andwedonotsayanythingwelackadequateevidence.2.1.1“Joey:Whatareyoutalkingabout?Keepit!

Phoebe:It'snotmine,Ididn'tearnit,ifIkeptit,itwouldbelikestealing.

Rachel:Yeah,butifyouspentit,itwouldbelikeshopping!

Phoebe:Okay.Okay,let'ssayIboughtareallygreatpairofshoes.DoyouknowwhatI'dhear,witheverystepItook?'Not-mine.Not-mine.Not-mine.'AndevenifIwashappy,okay,and,andskipping-'Not-not-mine,not-not-mine,not-not-mine,not-not-mine'...”(Friends,1994)ThisdialogueappearsinthescenethatonedayPhoebediscoversthereisfivehundredextradollarsinheraccount;everyoneaskshertokeepthemoney,whilesheisunwillingtokeepanduseit.Shethinkstheshoeswouldblameherifsheusedthatmoneytobuyshoes.She,ofcourse,knowsshoescouldnotsayanything.SheissayingsomethinguntrueandisthusfloutingthemaximofQuality.Atthesametime,humorisproducedbypersonifyingtheshoesasapersonhavingavoice.Herimpliedmessageis“Ishouldnotkeeptheextramoney.AndIwouldfeelguiltyifIkeptandusedit.”2.1.2“Ross:IfIhadn’tletyoutalkmetogointotheairportinthefirstplace,Iwouldn’thaveputmyfistthroughthewall.

Chandler:Youputyourfistthroughthewall?

Ross:No.Imissitandhitthedoor.Butitopenedreallyhard.”(Friends,1997)ThisconversationhappensinthesituationthatRossfailstopersuadehisgirlfriendtostaywithhim.Rosssaysheputhisfistthroughthewalltoemphasizehowupsetandangryheis.However,ChandlerdoubtsRoss’swordsbecauseheknowsRossistootimidtoputhisfistthroughthewall.Later,Rossadmitshejusthitthedoor.Here,RosssayssomethinguntrueonpurposeandthusfloutsthemaximofQuality.Humorofthiskindisfoundedlargelyonhyperbole.2.1.3“Ross:Yeah,uh…andthenIfiguredafteryouwin,wecouldallgoouttothebalconyandseeanightrainbowwithgremlinsdancingontopofit!”

2.1.4“Ross:Youknowwhat,I’msureyourwishisgonnacometrue,but,youguys—justincase,maybeageniewillcomeoutifwerubthislamp!”(Friends,1999)Rosssaysthesetwosentences,comparingthathisfriendswouldwintothatsomeonewouldseeanightrainbowwithgremlinsdancingontopofitandthatcomingoutageniefromalamp,toexpresshedoesnotbelievehisfriendwouldwin.Humorhereisachievedbyusingmetaphor.Rossknowsthephenomenonwhathesaidcouldhardlyhappen,soheisfloutingthemaximofqualitydeliberately.Theimplicationthatresultsis“Itisimpossibleforyoutowin.”2.2TheprincipleofquantityBytheprincipleofquantity,itismeantthatinadialoguewealltrytomakeourcontributionasmuchasdesired.Therearetwosub-principlesunderthequantityprinciple:wetrytomakeourcontributionasinformativeasisrequiredforthecurrentpurposeoftheexchangeandwedonotmakeourcontributionmoreinformativethanisrequired.2.2.1“Rachel:Isn’tthisamazing?Imean,I’venevermadecoffeebeforeinmyentirelife.

Chandler:That’samazing.

Joey:Congratulations.(Tasteabiteofcoffee)

Joey:AlthoughactuallyI’mreallynotthathungry.”(Friends,1995)

Aftertastingabiteofcoffee,Joeydoesnotmentionthetasteofcoffeeinhiscomment.Apparently,hisanswerislessinformativethanisrequired,thus,hefloutsthemaximofQuantity.Theimplicationthatresultsis“Thecoffeeisnottasty.”Inthefirstplace,thethreepersonsconsideritisamazingthatRachelcouldmakecoffee.ButitturnsoutthatRachel’scoffeeisterrible.Thissuddenturningpointwouldbringaboutthesenseofhumor.2.3Theprincipleofrelevance

Bytheprincipleofrelevance,itismeantthatinadialoguewealltrytomakeourcontributionrelevanttotheexchange.2.3.1“Ross:Idon’twanttobesingle,OK?Ijustwanttobemarriedagain.

(Rachelranintothecoffeeshopwearingtheweddingveil.)

Chandler:AndIjustwantamilliondollars!”(Friends,1994)

ThisconversationhappenswhenRossandChandleraretalkingaboutRoss’sloveaffair.Rosssayshewantstobemarriedagain,butChandlersayshewantsamilliondollars.Itseemsthatthetwosubjectstheymentionareirrelevant.ButitoccursinacertainsituationthatabridewearingweddingveilappearswhenRossspeaksouthisexpectationtobemarriedagain.Inthecase,Chandler’ssenseofhumorisembodiedbysayingsomethingirrelevant,i.e.floutingtheprincipleofRelevance.2.3.2“Phoebe:Oh,hey,Mon,doyoustillhaveyourlikeoldblousesanddressesfromhighschool?

Monica:Yeah,IthinkIhavesomearoundheresomewhere.Why?Phoebe:Well,it’sjustthatmaternityclothesaresoexpensive.”(Friends,2003)

Inthisconversation,whenPhoebeisaskedwhyshetalksaboutMonica’sdressesfromhighschool,sheanswersmaternityclothesareexpensive—thisreplyseemsirrelevanttothequestion,butactuallysheimplicatesthatMonica’sblousesanddressesfromhighschoolarebigenoughforapregnantwoman,whilematernityclothesaresoexpensive,soshewantstoborrowthem.Here,Phoebefloutstheprincipleofrelevancedeliberately,andthushersenseofhumorisexpressed.

2.4TheprincipleofmannerBytheprincipleofmanner,itismeantthatinadialoguewealltrytobeperspicuous(clearandlucid).Inlinewiththisprinciple,therearefoursub-principles:a.wetrytoavoidobscurity;b.wetrytoavoidambiguity;c.wetrytobebrief;d.wetrytobeorderly.

2.4.1“Phoebe:Ooh!Oh!(ShestartstopluckattheairjustinfrontofRoss.)

Ross:No,nodon't!Stopcleansingmyaura!No,justleavemyauraalone,okay?

Phoebe:Fine!Bemurky!”(Friends,1996)

Inthisconversation,PhoebewantstocatchRoss’sattentionbypluckingattheairinfrontofhim.Buthefeelsannoyingandhewantstoleavehimselfalone.Insteadofsaying“donotbotherme”directly,herefersto“myaura”andsays“stopcleansingmyaura”and“leavemyauraalone”.Moreover,Phoebeutters“murky”todescribetheairaroundRossinsteadofusing“unhappy”or“sorrowful”todescribehimdirectly.Here,bothRossandPhoebeuseobscureexpressionandthusflouttheprincipleofManner.Butthehumorouseffecttheycreateandtheimplicationoftheirutteranceareobviousandacceptedbyaudience.

2.4.2“Emily:Whatdidyoudecide?DoesyouruncleNathangetaninvitationornot?

Ross:Oh,God!Nobodylikeshim.Andhe’ssocheap.Imeanhe’dneverflytoLondoninamillionyears…Yeah,invitehim.”(Friends,1997)RossandEmilyaredecidingwhowouldbeinvitedtotheirwedding.WhenEmilyasksRosswhetherinvitehisuncleornot,Rossdoesnotanswer“yes”or“no”brieflyanddirectly.Instead,hesaysalotofhisuncle’sweakpointsinthefirstplace,butfinallyhedecidestoinvitehimsoquickly.Thus,obviously,Ross’sdeliberatelyprolixexpressioncreatesasenseofhumorbyfloutingtheprincipleofManner.3·Discussion

Inthepreviouspart,thehumorousdialoguesinFriendswereselectedtobeanalyzedandexplainedfromtheviewoffloutingfourprinciplesofCPincludingtheprincipleofquality,quantity,relevanceandmanner.Afterdetailedanalyzing,aconclusionthatthereisimpliedmeaningbehindsomeofthehumorousconversationisdrawn.

TheverbalhumorinFriends,sometimesconveyingsomeimpliedmessage,called“conversationalimplication”–anextrameaningcomparedwiththeliteral,isstillasuccessfulcommunicationskillthoughit,toacertainextents,exteriorlyfloutstheprinciplesoftheCP.

SomeChinesescholarshaveresearchedonverbalhumorinAmericansoapoperaFriends.Theyconductananalysisontheselecteddialoguesonthebasisoftheprincipleofqualityandthemaximofmanner.Intheirresearches,theyhavethesameresultasthisthesisdoes,thatis,theparticipantsinhumorousconversationsdeliberatelyflouttheprincipleofqualityandofmanner.However,mostofthemdonotdiscussthehumorousconversationsfocusingonallofthefourprinciplesoftheCPanddonotdiscusstheconversationalimplication.Therefore,thisthesisislikelytofurtherthestudyinthisaspect.

AfterexplaininghowthepragmaticrulescanbeusedinFriendsandimpliedmeaningsbehindverbalhumor,thisthesisislikelytoassistpeopletoappreciatethehumorinFriends.TheverbalhumorinFriendsisthetypicalhumorwithAmericancharacteristicssothatsometimesitishardfornon-nativeEnglishspeakerstounderstand.Hence,detailedpragmaticanalysisoftheverbalhumorinFriendsishelpfulforEnglishlearnerstoimprovetheirunderstandingandappreciationofthenatureofAmericanhumor.Atthesametime,itisilluminatingforthemtoapplyhumorskilltomediateinterpersonalrelationships.4·ConclusionStudyinganddiscussingAmericancultureisofgreathelpforEnglishlearnerstounderstandAmericanhumor.Therefore,afurtherresearchonhumorinFriendscanbepossiblydevelopedfromtheaspectofcross-culturalcommunication.Besides,whileexplainingthehumorousdialogues,thispaperhasnotreferredtofigures’charactersandtraits,whichmayalsohavemucheffectonthestyleofhumor.InFriends,protagonistshaverespectivepersonalityandlifeexperience,sothestyleofhumorutteredbyeachofthemistoacertaindegreedifferent.Understandingofthefigures’personalitycontributestoafurtherstudyonthehumorinFriends.Bibliography

[1]何兆熊主编.新编语用学概要[M].上海.上海外语教育出版社.1999.

[2]何自然.语用学与英语学习[M].上海.上海外语教育出版社.1997.

[3]胡范铸.幽默语言学[M].上海.上海社会科学院出版社.1987.

[4]刘乃实.试析幽默的语用合作原则[J].清华大学研究教育.2002(2).143-147.

[5]毛荣贵.英语幽默语言赏析[M].上海.上海社会科学院出版社.1993.

[6]吴清.合作原则和情景喜剧中的幽默[J].江南大学学报.2005(2).107-110.基于C8051F单片机直流电动机反馈控制系统的设计与研究基于单片机的嵌入式Web服务器的研究MOTOROLA单片机MC68HC（8）05PV8/A内嵌EEPROM的工艺和制程方法及对良率的影响研究基于模糊控制的电阻钎焊单片机温度控制系统的研制基于MCS-51系列单片机的通用控制模块的研究基于单片机实现的供暖系统最佳启停自校正（STR）调节器单片机控制的二级倒立摆系统的研究基于增强型51系列单片机的TCP/IP协议栈的实现基于单片机的蓄电池自动监测系统基于32位嵌入式单片机系统的图像采集与处理技术的研究基于单片机的作物营养诊断专家系统的研究基于单片机的交流伺服电机运动控制系统研究与开发基于单片机的泵管内壁硬度测试仪的研制基于单片机的自动找平控制系统研究基于C8051F040单片机的嵌入式系统开发基于单片机的液压动力系统状态监测仪开发模糊Smith智能控制方法的研究及其单片机实现一种基于单片机的轴快流CO〈,2〉激光器的手持控制面板的研制基于双单片机冲床数控系统的研究基于CYGNAL单片机的在线间歇式浊度仪的研制基于单片机的喷油泵试验台控制器的研制基于单片机的软起动器的研究和设计基于单片机控制的高速快走丝电火花线切割机床短循环走丝方式研究基于单片机的机电产品控制系统开发基于PIC单片机的智能手机充电器基于单片机的实时内核设计及其应用研究基于单片机的远程抄表系统的设计与研究基于单片机的烟气二氧化硫浓度检测仪的研制基于微型光谱仪的单片机系统单片机系统软件构件开发的技术研究基于单片机的液体点滴速度自动检测仪的研制基于单片机系统的多功能温度测量仪的研制基于PIC单片机的电能采集终端的设计和应用基于单片机的光纤光栅解调仪的研制气压式线性摩擦焊机单片机控制系统的研制基于单片机的数字磁通门传感器基于单片机的旋转变压器-数字转换器的研究基于单片机的光纤Bragg光栅解调系统的研究单片机控制的便携式多功能乳腺治疗仪的研制基于C8051F020单片机的多生理信号检测仪基于单片机的电机运动控制系统设计Pico专用单片机核的可测性设计研究基于MCS-51单片机的热量计基于双单片机的智能遥测微型气象站MCS-51单片机构建机器人的实践研究基于单片机的轮轨力检测基于单片机的GPS定位仪的研究与实现基于单片机的电液伺服控制系统用于单片机系统的MMC卡文件系统研制基于单片机的时控和计数系统性能优化的研究基于单片机和CPLD的粗光栅位移测量系统研究单片机控制的后备式方波UPS提升高职学生单片机应用能力的探究基于单片机控制的自动低频减载装置研究基于单片机控制的水下焊接电源的研究基于单片机的多通道数据采集系统基于uPSD3234单片机的氚表面污染测量仪的研制基于单片机的红外测油仪的研究96系列单片机仿真器研究与设计基于单片机的单晶金刚石刀具刃磨设备的数控改造基于单片机的温度智能控制系统的设计与实现基于MSP430单片机的电梯门机控制器的研制基于单片机的气体测漏仪的研究基于三菱M16C/6N系列单片机的CAN/USB协议转换器基于单片机和DSP的变压器油色谱在线监测技术研究基于单片机的膛壁温度报警系统设计基于AVR单片机的低压无功补偿控制器的设计基于单片机船舶电力推进电机监测系统基于单片机网络的振动信号的采集系统基于单片机的大容量数据存储技术的应用研究基于单片机的叠图机研究与教学方法实践基于单片机嵌入式Web服务器技术的研究及实现基于AT89S52单片机的通用数据采集系统基于单片机的多道脉冲幅度分析仪研究机器人旋转电弧传感角焊缝跟踪单片机控制系统基于单片机的控制系统在PLC虚拟教学实验中的应用研究基于单片机系统的网络通信研究与应用基于PIC16F877单片机的莫尔斯码自动译码系统设计与研究基于单片机的模糊控制器在工业电阻炉上的应用研究基于双单片机冲床数控系统的研究与开发H