动态语境顺应视角下幽默的理解外国语言学与应用语言学专业论文.docxVIP

Abstract A frequently used communicative strategy, humor is the lubricant in communication. Proper understanding and an appropriate application of it can facilitate the establishment of harmonious relations. The current thesis aims to level learners’ capability of English humor recognition and appreciation. Three important pragmatic theories are analyzed critically and their applicability to humor research is further explored. Based on the analysis of the shortcomings of these theories in humor research, we propose the framework of the thesis and a new model to humor understanding. The framework is based on Verscheuren’s linguistic adaptation theory, and integrating the concept of dynamic context. We hold that the use of humor is a bidirectional adaptation of linguistics choices and linguistic, situational, cultural and cognitive factors in the dynamic context and examples taken from American sitcom Friends are illustrated to support our points. The thesis is composed of five chapters. Chapter One is an introduction of the background, objective, and significance of the research. Chapter Two is literature review in which we review the definition of humor and three theories in the research of humor. In Chapter Three we analyze and comment on the applicability of three important pragmatic theories, cooperative principle, politeness principle and speech act theory. Chapter Four is research of humor production and interpretation from a dynamic context adaptation perspective. Based on linguistic adaptation theory, incorporating the concept of dynamic context, we propose a new model for humor understanding. Chapter Five is the conclusion of the thesis in which we display the major findings and possible improvements for further research. The research of humor can level English learners’ capability of humor recognition and comprehension, enabling them to harmonize interpersonal relationships and avoid pragmatic failure in intercultural communication, as well as offer some i