《英语专业毕业论文1.doc》由会员分享,可在线阅读,更多相关《英语专业毕业论文1.doc(35页珍藏版)》请在三一文库上搜索。
1、 学科分类号 0502 本科学生毕业论文(设计)题目(中文):英语双关语的语用功能及修辞效果 (英文): The Pragmatic Functions and Rhetorical Effects of English Puns 姓 名 学 号 院 (系) 湖南科技学院外国语言文学系 专业、年级 英语专业2007级 指导教师 2011年 5 月 15 日The Pragmatic Functions and Rhetorical Effects of English PunsbyWu Hongxia supervisedbyProfessor Liu LameisubmittedtoThe
2、Foreign Languages DepartmentIn partial fulfillment of the requirementfor the degree ofBachelor of Artsin the subject ofEnglish RhetoricHuman University of Science and EngineeringYongzhouMay,2011Contents摘要.iiiAbstract.iv Introduction.11 Introduction of Pun.2 1.1 The definition of pun.21.2 The three e
3、lements of puns.3 1.2.1 Double context4 1.2.2 Hinge.5 1.2.3 Trigger.61.3 The classification of puns.7 1.3.1 Homophony pun.7 1.3.2 Homograph pun.9 1.3.3 Grammar pun.10 1.3.4 Extended pun.122 The pragmatic functions of puns.142.1 The usage of puns in word games and riddles.142.2 The usage of puns in h
4、umor and jokes.15 2.3 The usage of puns in advertising.172.4 The usage of puns in literature.193 Words Characteristics of Puns223.1 The words of indicating body parts .223.2 The words of indicating everyday items.23 3.3The words of describing behavior characteristics, psychological states.234 Rhetor
5、ical Effects of Puns.254.1 Puns are vivid and persuasive.254.2 Puns can increase ironic effect.264.3 Puns are humorous and witty, which can intensify the language force.274.4 Puns are quick-witted, which can make atmosphere not so serious.28Conclusion.30Bibliography.31Acknowledgements摘 要双关语是用一个词表达两层
6、不同的含义,是人们喜闻乐见的语言修辞手段,它使语言风趣诙谐,是构成幽默的主要方式。它不仅能使语言简练、丰富、一箭双雕,而且可喻指很多道理。 双关语具有多重功能的修辞效果,它借助语言的特点和文化背景, 大大增强了语言感染力和生动性,也可以使文字富有讽刺的效果。本文从双关语的构成出发,拓展到构成双关语的词的特征,透析它的语用功能和修辞效果,对激发读者的阅读兴趣,陶冶读者的思想情操,培养读者的鉴赏能力和审美能力有一定的借鉴意义。关键词: 双关语; 修辞效果; 语用功能AbstractPun uses a word to convey two different meanings, is a ling
7、uistic rhetoric loved by people, it makes language full of wit and humor, is an ingenious technique in language using. It can not only make the language succinct, rich, and kill two birds with one stone, but also explain many truths. English pun bears multi-function rhetorical effects, which makes t
8、he language more vivid, humorous, ironic and implicit with the help of its characteristics and cultural background. This paper bases on the constitution on of puns, expands into words characteristics of puns, and then reflects its pragmatic function and rhetorical effect. This paper can stimulate th
9、e readers interest in the reading, and edify the readers moral sentiments, which have a certain significance to improve readers esthetic ability and appreciation levels. Key Words: Puns, Rhetorical effects, Pragmatic function29IntroductionPun, a common expression in rhetoric, consciously uses a word
10、 or the same sentence to convey two different meanings in the context, which expresses the fact of deepening meaning of double articles and enable the words have a specified implication. As a common figure of speech, pun has a long history in English language, and is widely used in literature. The k
11、ey to the pun is its expressive humor, which often makes the articles sound vivid just by using several words.The meaning of pun often makes the language thought-provoking. The puns are often used to portray peoples inner feelings and display rich meaning of the context. This figure of speech just u
12、ses language subtly to initiate readers to understand the double meaning of the sentence, to appreciate the context meaning and to experience the terrific sound of puns from one aspect to another, from outer to inner.The paper is divided into four parts. The first part gives definition and constitut
13、ion of puns, the second part states pragmatic functions of puns, the third part reveals words characteristics of puns, and the last part describes rhetorical effects of puns, which is designed to inspire readers reading interest, cultivate readers appreciating ability and aesthetic ability.1Introduc
14、tion of Pun1.1 The definition of punIn English, pun is also called “paronomasia” or “play on words”. Pun is a figure of speech used very frequently in English. Over the past 20 years, people have discussed puns thoroughly but up to now there is still no consensus over the definition of the English p
15、un in academic circles. In Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English pun is “an amusing use of a word or phrase that has two meanings, or of words with the same sound but different meanings.”Pun is defined in Websters New World Dictionary as “the humorous use of a word or words which are formed or
16、sound alike but have different meanings, in such a way as to play on two or more of the possible applications; a play on words.”Pun, as British poet and dramatist John Dryden said, is “to torture one poor word ten thousand ways.” It is employed in a certain context to express two meanings, one is su
17、rface meaning, the other is referential meaning. Meanwhile, Princeton encyclopedia of poetry &poetics defines pun: a figure of speech depending upon a similarity of sound & a disparity of meaning. This definition is just words by words to explicate the pun, indicating what kinds of puns belong to, a
18、nd pointing that it just relies on the same sound and the different meanings of the vocabularies to come into the figure.However, the Oxford English dictionary has its own opinion about pun: the use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more meanings or different associations, or the use of t
19、wo or more words of the same or nearly the same sound with different meanings, so as to produce a humorous effect. Its definition expresses the fact that puns depend on the same or similar phony of the words even the same word and different meaning to meet a certain effect to make the puns come into
20、 being.Through comparison of the above definitions, I find all of them agree that (1) pun is a wise or humorous use of words or phrases (2) the word or phrase which forms a pun suggests two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word or phrase similar in sound or some extended or distorte
21、d meanings by association with its pronunciation or graphic form. Therefore, understanding and using pun properly will benefit the English learners a lot.1.2 The three elements of punsAny language has a certain condition, and pun is not an exception. According to American famous professor Archibald
22、A. Hills view, a pun is usually based on this three conditions: double context, the hinge( the word used as a pun), and a trigger(the elements which make the pun possible). 1.2.1 Double contextDouble context means that the double meanings of pun exist in double contexts. The existence of the dual co
23、ntext is the important condition of the establishment of pun which can not exist independently. The double context is able to provide the environmental opportunities of the use of pun. Thus the pun is really formed. This can be illustrated by the following examples:(1) Theres never been a better tim
24、e. (Ad for Watch)This is a watch ad. “time” is the most frequent word in watch advertisement. Here, “time” means that “there will not be more accurate time than this time”. The deep meaning is that “there is no longer better time than this time”. The exchange between two contexts and two meanings in
25、stantly come up with the new interpretation. That is “if you can wear this type of watch, you may always have a better time.” This ad has played with a function of pun.(2) Why are lawyers all uneasy sleepers? Because they lie first on one side, and then on the other, and remain wide awake all the ti
26、me. In this example, “lie” not only means “not truth or false” but also means “recumbency”. The first meaning is why lawyers are all uneasy sleepers because the lawyers turn from one side to the other side without stopping, and the other meaning conveys the fact that when lawyers file the lawsuit fo
27、r someone, they have to tell a lie to each side and keep a clear attitude to avoid the lies being found out. The author presents a clever and euphemistic criticism through a pun, and makes a relentless attack for the lawyers bad behavior.1.2.2 Hinge Hinge is the most important element of pun, due to
28、 the basic constitution of pun. The so-called hinge is the word pun itself such as homophone or homonym which is able to play the role as pun. Its language feature is to make the different contexts together. Moreover, there is a process of translation to convert it between the two meanings. If this
29、translation fails, the hinge will die out.This can be illustrated by the first example. The hinge word “time” itself has a double meaning. The first meaning is “accurate time”. Another meaning is “better time”. It makes two different contexts together.Another example as following:We must all hang to
30、gether, or we shall all hang separately.This is a famous motto said by Franklin, a famous politician, during the Civil War. In this sentence, the double context is the current situation and the future threat; the verb “ hang” is the hinge, because the first “hang ” means “cling for support, hold fas
31、t”, and “ hang together” means “be united”, the other “hang” means “to suspend a person, usually by the neck, as from a gallows, until he is dead”. The key to whether the country can be independent and the nation will exist or not is being united; otherwise the future threat may become reality. This
32、 is the background, which is the trigger of the pun.1.2.3 TriggerTrigger is the key factor in the using of pun. It is the motivation or social background of making pun, that is to say, trigger is formed before the speakers actual speech act. The trigger is usually regarded as an implicit context. Pu
33、n is able to solve the semantic ambiguity that sometimes can not be explained because the value of trigger is ambiguity. It can increase the infinite charm in language. Therefore, advertisers make the most use of puns. Puns are accepted and appreciated by consumers. Among these three conditions, “Do
34、uble Context” is an objective precondition of pun. “Trigger” is the inducing element of the emergence of pun. And the “Hinge” makes context and semantic together. We can see that puns are the conscious speech acts in order to achieve the effects of expected expression.Now lets see an example: “My fa
35、ith is gone!” cried he, after one stupefied moment.-Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown.In this pun ,one context is his wife Faith is seriously ill, and her life is on the verge of the death ,the other is her husband, Goodman Brown, blindly believes in God, counting on sincerely pray to rescue
36、his wife. The hinge is his wife Faith died, because the God doesnt manifest a spirit. So the Goodman shouted the depressed puns in despair after waking. So in this pun, Faith is the puns trigger, that is to say, his wife died and his faith to the God also has gone away.1.3 Classification of punsThe
37、puns are divided into four types and they are homophony pun, homograph pun, grammar pun, extended pun.1.3.1 Homophony punHomophony pun is made by the language materials, which are the same sound of the words or the nearly same pronunciation but different in meaning. In English, there are a lot of wo
38、rds with the same sound but different in meanings, which provide an opportunity for puns. For example:(1) “Mine is a long and sad tale!” said the mouse, turning the Alice and sighing. “Its a long tail, certainly”, said Alice, looking down with wonder at the mouses tail, but why do you call it sad? -
39、Lewis Carroll: Alices adventures in wonderlandIn this dialogue, “tale” and “tail” have the same sound, and what the mouse said is “tale” while Alice mistakes “tale” as “tail”, so the story is a tragedy that it is sorrowful. However, because of the word “tail”, the story is processed the shape of a t
40、ail, then it comes to the humorous effects.(2)“Make your every hello a real good-buy”.In this advertisement, “buy” provokes consumers association of “bye” and “good-buy” stirs up the association of “good-bye”. When people make a call, they usually begin with a “hello” and end with a “good-bye”. If e
41、very call is smooth from the “hello” to the “good-bye”, this telephone is a real “good-buy”. The maker of the advertisement intends to attract consumers attention and make sure that the purchase of their telephone is a good and worthwhile deal.(3) -Waiter, theres a hair in my soup. -So sorry, sir. D
42、id you order it without?In this dialogue, the customer means a human hair or an animal hair in the soup, and he complains about the hygienic condition of the restaurant. “hair” sounds like “hare”, it means an animal cooked as ordered food. So the waiter is being humorous to ease away the complaint.1
43、.3.2 Homograph punHomograph pun refers to a type of puns, which is relevant to the words of similar spelling but different in meaning and the words of several meanings used in a certain context. For example: (1)To English will I steal and there Ill steal.-Shakespeare Henry VIn this example, the word
44、 “steal” appears two times, but the meanings are different. The first “steal” means “to move secretly and quietly” while the second “steal” means “to take what belongs to someone else without any right to it”. However, because of the different meanings, it scripts a thief with ugly soul. That is why
45、 Shakespeare regarded pun as the militants, because one word is used to show two occasions, which is very economical.(2) The judge noticed a disturbance in the back of the courtroom. “Whats going on there?” he noticed.“Ive lost my jacket and Im trying to find it” replied a young teenager. “Son” smiled the judge, “people often lose whole suit here without all that fuss.”In this example, “suit” has two meanings : one is clothing ,the other is law sui
链接地址:https://www.31doc.com/p-3291612.html