The Humor Feature and Pragmatic Function of Verbal Irony 英语专业毕业论文.doc
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1、The Humor Feature and Pragmatic Function of Verbal Irony ContentsAcknowledgementsiAbstract(English)iiAbstract(Chinese)iii1. Introduction1 1.1 Introduction to irony1 1.1.1 Definition of irony1 1.1.2 Classification of irony2 1.2 Introduction to verbal humor3 1.3 Introduction to this thesis32. Irony an
2、d the cooperative principle32.1 The cooperative principle32.2 Irony as violation of CP43. Irony and verbal humor53.1 Verbal humor53.2 The humor feature of irony6 4. Pragmatic functions of irony74.1 Discontent function7 4.2 Satire function84.3 Polite function 84.4 Affection function94.5 Emphasis func
3、tion94.6 Humor function105. Conculsion11Works Cited12AbstractVerbal irony, as a widely used figure of speech, has received considerable attention from cognitive psychologists and linguists. The traditional study of verbal irony from rhetorical and aesthetical approaches has been shifted to current c
4、ognitive and pragmatic investigation. In this paper, focus will be laid upon the humor feature of verbal irony from the perspective of pragmatics. First, through the comparison of different kinds of definitions of irony, a general idea about what is irony is established. Then, this paper examines th
5、e Cooperative Principle (CP for short) of American linguist Grice which put forwards that irony acts as a violation of CP. Finally, with the analysis of the pragmatic functions of irony, the humor feature of verbal irony can be well displayed. Irony can be classified into six types from the perspect
6、ive of pragmatic functions as follows: irony for discontent, irony for satire, irony for polite, irony for affection, irony for emphasis and irony for humor. This paper makes a summary that the humor feature of irony is its basic feature, also well reflected in the pragmatic functions.Key words: ver
7、bal irony; pragmatic function; humor 内容摘要反语作为一种普遍使用的修辞格,引起了认知心理学家和语言学家的关注。反语研究的角度从传统的修辞学和美学转向了认知心理学和语用学的探究。本文首先从不同的定义和分类上,对反语进行认知层面上的归纳总结,我们可以初步了解什么是反语。其次,基于对美国语言学家格赖斯合作原则的分析,了解反语与合作原则的联系,反语违反合作原则主要体现在对质量准则的违反上。此外,反语是言语幽默的一种表现形式。从语用学的角度可以把反语的功能分成六种类型,表达不满的功能、讽刺的功能、礼貌的功能、亲热的功能、强调功能、幽默功能,文中对其进行归纳总结,从而
8、得知,反语的幽默属性是其基本属性,在其语用功能中也得到了很好的体现。关键词:反语;语用功能;幽默1. Introduction1.1 Introduction to ironyIrony is a universal phenomenon of natural languages used in our daily communication. The study of irony first originates in the field of rhetoric. Later,many analyses have been made on irony in the fields of phi
9、losophy, psychology, and especially conitive pragmatics. Traditionally, irony is treated as a figure of speech whose meaning is the opposite of that expressed by the words . The study of irony in this way belongs to that of rhetoric. American linguist Grice takes “irony as one of those figures of sp
10、eech that flouts the Cooperative Principle (CP for short), especially the Maxim of Quality.”(58) Irony interpreted under this pragmatic model conveys the contradiction of what is literally said. While linguist Sperber and Wilson treat irony as an echoic mention and think that verbal irony involves s
11、aying what one doesnt mean.”(126)1.1.1 Definition of iron(1) “The use of words that say the opposite of what you really mean, in order to be emphatic, amusing, sarcastic, etc.”(Wehmeier et al 935)(2) “Irony is a figure of speech that achieves emphasis by saying the opposite of what is meant, the int
12、ended meaning of the words being the opposite of their usual sense. This form of irony is called verbal irony, and differs from the stylistic device of dramatic irony.”(Feng Cuihua 329) (3) “Use of words which are clearly opposite to ones meaning, usually either in order to be amusing or to show ann
13、oyance.”(Summers 919)The above definitions explained by different experts from different angles, roughly display the nature of irony from both the form and function. Among these definitions, the basic meaning of irony could be found as “saying one thing but meaning another.” However, all of these de
14、finitions have some shortcomings. First, none of them provides an effective way to identify irony from non-irony. Second, they basically regard irony as a figure of speech whose literal and connotative meanings are mutually opposed to each other. This traditional understanding has been under challen
15、ges by modern experts.1.1.2 Classification of ironyThe classification of irony is presented in different ways.In general, irony involves a contradiction between appearance and reality. Irony results between a character and a narrator or reader from difference views Traditionally, there are four majo
16、r types of irony: verbal, dramatic, situational and comic.(1) Verbal ironyVerbal irony is classically defined as the use of words to convey a meaning that is something other,and especially the opposite of the literal meaning of the words.The contrast is between what the speaker says and what he actu
17、ally means. In this paper, the discussion is laid upon this type of irony:verbal irony.(2) Dramatic ironyDramatic irony occurs when the meaning intended by a characters words or actions is opposite of the true situation. The contrast is between what the character says, thinks, or does and the true s
18、ituation. Further, the character cannot see or understand the contrast, but the audiences or readers can. (3) Situational irony Situational irony occurs in literature and in drama when persons and events come together in improbable situations, creating a tension between expected and real results. (4
19、) Comic irony Some irony goes beyond being unfair and is morally tragic. Such irony is often so severe that it causes people to question God and see the universe as hostile. Such irony typically suggests that people are pawns to malicious forces.1.2 Introduction to verbal humor Humor is a phenomenon
20、 popular in human communication in all societies. It brings laughter to people and enriches their language and culture. Humor can be categorized into two major groups:situational humor and language humor.In the former, humorous effects are realized thyough a funny situation, such as cartoons, comic
21、pantomimes, humorous sculptures, ect. While the latter relies on language to achieve the intended effects.In truth, much humor finds expression in language. Verbal humor is a category of humor which is used to express humorist ideas through language. 1.3 Introduction to this thesis This paper focuse
22、s on the humor feature of verbal irony from the perspective of pragmatics and the pragmatic functions of irony. Firstly, through the comparison of different kinds of definitions of irony, a general idea about what is irony is established. Secondly, this paper examines the Cooperative Principle and i
23、rony acts as violation of CP, the condition of producing irony is displayed.Thirdly,with the analysis of the humor feature of irony ,we can learn verbal irony as an approach to verbal humor.Finally, the pragmatic functions of irony will be presented. In a word, irony is one way to produce humor in v
24、erbal communication. 2 Irony and the Cooperative Principle 2.1 The Cooperative PrincipleAmerican philosopher Grice noticed that “in daily conversation people do not usually say things directly but tend to imply them.”(28).He made an attempt to explain the course of natural conversation. His idea is
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