语言文化论文-反语的幽默属性和语用功能.doc

语言文化论文-反语的幽默属性和语用功能AbstractVerbalirony,asawidelyusedfigureofspeech,hasreceivedconsiderableattentionfromcognitivepsychologistsandlinguists.Thetraditionalstudyofverbalironyfromrhetoricalandaestheticalapproacheshasbeenshiftedtocurrentcognitiveandpragmaticinvestigation.Inthispaper,focuswillbelaiduponthehumorfeatureofverbalironyfromtheperspectiveofpragmatics.First,throughthecomparisonofdifferentkindsofdefinitionsofirony,ageneralideaaboutwhatisironyisestablished.Then,thispaperexaminestheCooperativePrinciple(CPforshort)ofAmericanlinguistGricewhichputforwardsthatironyactsasaviolationofCP.Lastbutnottheleast,withthehelpofthecomparisonofthepragmaticfunctionsofEnglishironyandChineseirony,thehumorfeatureofverbalironycanbewelldisplayed.InEnglish,ironycouldbeusedtostateonesnegativeattitudetosomething.Itcouldbeusedasameanstosatirize,anapproachtopoliteness,anapproachtohumor.Chineseironycanbeclassifiedintofivetypesfromtheperspectiveofpragmaticfunctionsasfollows:ironyforcommendationandderogation,ironyforsatire,ironyforfun,ironyforaffectionandironyforemphasis.Thepragmaticfunctionsofironyinbothlanguagesaresimilar.KeyWordsverbalirony；pragmaticfunction；humor；EnglishandChineseironies【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。本文首先从定义和分类上，对反语进行认知层面上的归纳总结。其次，基于语用学角度分析了反语与合作原则和礼貌原则的联系。反语违反合作原则主要体现在对质量准则的违反上。反语作为一种间接言语，成为礼貌的一种手段。反语原则独立于礼貌原则之外，是对礼貌原则的一大补充。此外，反语是言语幽默的一种表现形式。英汉反语的语用功能大致相似，但也存在不少差异。文中对此异同进行归纳总结，从而得知，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；英汉反语1.IntroductionIronyisacommonlinguisticphenomenoninverbalcommunication.Recentyearshaveseenamushroomgrowthofdistinctlyangledtheorizationsinthisorientation,whichneverthelessexhibitstrongcomplementarity.Traditionally,ironyistreatedasafigureofspeechwhoseintendedmeaningistheoppositeofthatexpressedbythewordsuttered.Thestudyofironyinthiswaybelongstothatofrhetoric.AmericanlinguistGricetakesironyasoneofthosefiguresofspeechthatfloutstheCooperativePrinciple(CPforshort),especiallytheMaximofQuality.Ironyinterpretedunderthispragmaticmodelconveysthecontradictionofwhatisliterallysaid.LinguistsSperberandWilsontreatironyasanechoicmentionwhilelinguistCuddonstatesthat“Atitssimplest,verbalironyinvolvessayingwhatonedoesntmean.”1Inthispaper,focuswillbelaiduponthehumorfeatureofverbalironyfromtheperspectiveofpragmatics.First,throughthecomparisonofdifferentkindsofdefinitionsofirony,ageneralideaaboutwhatisironyisestablished.Secondly,thispaperexaminesGriceanCooperativePrinciplewhichputforwardsthatironyactsasaviolationofCP.Thirdly,withthehelpofLeechsideaofirony,thepragmaticfunctionofironycouldbebetterdisplayed.Finally,thelastpointisaboutthepragmaticfunctionsofbothEnglishironyandChineseirony.Inaword,ironyisonewaytoproducehumorinverbalcommunication.2.WhatisironyItisdifficulttodefinethewordof“irony”whichcouldbeunderstoodinvariousways.Theexpansionofitsresearchareamaybethedirectcauseofthediversityofthedefinitionofirony.Thefollowingaresomedefinitionsofironyfromdictionaries.2.1Dictionarydefinitionsofirony1)Expressionofonesmeaningbysayingthedirectoppositeofonesthoughtsinordertobeemphatic,amusing,sarcastic,etc.2OxfordAdvancedLearnersEnglish-ChineseDictionary2)Useofwordswhichareclearlyoppositetoonesmeaning,usuallyeitherinordertobeamusingortoshowannoyance(e.g.bysayingWhatcharmingbehaviourwhensomeonehasbeenrude.)3LongmanDictionaryofEnglishLanguage&Culture(English-Chinese)3)Ironyisaliterarytechniquethatachievestheeffectofsayingonethingandmeaninganotherthroughtheuseofhumorormildsarcasm.4WebstersNewWorldEncyclopedia4)Theuseofwordstoexpresssomethingotherthanandespeciallytheoppositeoftheliteralmeaning.5WebsterEnglishDictionary5)Ironyisafigureofspeechthatachievesemphasisbysayingtheoppositeofwhatismeant,theintendedmeaningofthewordsbeingtheoppositeoftheirusualsense.Thisformofironyiscalledverbalirony,anddiffersfromthestylisticdeviceofdramaticirony.6EnglishRhetoricalOptions6)DefinitionofironyfromGrolierInternationalDictionary:a).Anexpressionorutterancemarkedbysuchadeliberatecontrastbetweenapparentandintendedmeaning,forhumorousorrhetoricaleffect.b).Incongruitybetweenwhatmightbeexpectedandwhatoccurs.7Theabovedefinitions,althoughexplainedbydifferentexpertsfromdifferentangles,roughlydisplaythenatureofironyfromboththeformandfunction.Amongthesedefinitions,thebasicmeaningofironycouldbefoundas“sayingonethingbutmeaninganother.”Thebestdescriptionofirony,say,theGrolierInternationalDictionary,takesboththeformandfunctionofironyintoconsiderationandgivesusabetterpicture.However,allofthesedefinitionshavesomeshortcomings.First,noneofthemprovidesaneffectivewaytoidentifyironyfromnon-irony.Second,theybasicallyregardironyasatropeorafigureofspeechwhoseliteralandconnotativemeaningsaremutuallyopposedtoeachother.Thistraditionalunderstandinghasbeenunderchallengesbymodernresearch.2.2ClassificationofironyTheclassificationofironyispresentedindifferentwaysbythosewhoworkonit.Boothidentifiesquiteanumberoftypes:tragicirony,comicirony,stableirony,unstableirony,dramaticirony,situationalirony,verbalirony,rhetoricalironysoonandsoforth.KreuzandRobertsdistinguishfourtypesofirony:Socraticirony,dramaticirony,ironyoffateandverbalirony.8Ingeneral,ironyinvolvesacontradictionbetweenappearanceandreality.Ironyresultswherethereisadifferenceinpointofviewbetweenacharacterandthenarratororreader.Traditionally,therearefourmajortypesofirony:verbal,dramatic,situationalandcomic.2.2.1VerbalironyVerbalironyreferstospokenwordsonly.Verbalironyoccurswhenacharactersaysonething,butsuggestsorintendstheopposite.Thecontrastisbetweenwhatthespeakersaysandwhatheactuallymeans.Forexample,inJuliusCaesar,MarkAntonyrepeatsthewords“andBrutusisanhonorableman”inthefamous“Friends,Romans,Countrymen”speech.9MarkAntonysmeaning,however,isthatBrutusiscompletelydishonorablebecauseBrutus,Caesarsbestfriend,joinedtheotherconspiratorsandplungedaknifeintoCaesarschest.Inthispaper,thediscussionislaiduponthistypeofirony,verbalirony.2.2.2DramaticironyDramaticironyinvolvesmorethanjustspokenwords.Dramaticironyoccurswhenthemeaningintendedbyacharacterswordsoractionsisoppositeofthetruesituation.Thecontrastisbetweenwhatthecharactersays,thinks,ordoesandthetruesituation.Further,thecharactercannotseeorunderstandthecontrast,buttheaudienceorreadercan.Forexample,inOthello,dramaticironyoccurswhenOthelloreferstoIagoas“honestIago”.10UnknowntoOthello,IagoisavillainwhodeceiveshimintothinkingthatDesdemona(Othelloswife)hasbeenunfaithful.Forthis,Othellounjustlykillshiswife,believingthewholetimeinIagoshonesty.Thedifferenceinexamplesforverbalanddramaticirony:AntonycallsBrutus“honorable”andknowsheisnothonorable,whileOthellocallsIago“honest”anddoesnotknowofIagosdeceit.2.2.3SituationalironySituationalironydefieslogicalcause/effectrelationshipsandjustifiableexpectations.Forexample,ifagreedymillionaireweretobuyalotteryticketandwinadditionalmillions,theironywouldbesituationalbecausesuchacircumstancecannotbeexplainedlogically.Suchacircumstanceseems“unfair”.Thissenseofbeing“unfair”or“unfortunate”isatrademarkofsituationalirony.Becausepeoplecannotexplaintheunfairness,itcausesthemtoquestionwhetherornotthewordmakessense.2.2.4Comicirony(orIronyoffate)Someironygoesbeyondbeingunfairandismorallytragic.SuchironyisoftensoseverethatitcausespeopletoquestionGodandseetheuniverseashostile.Forexample,ifanhonest,hardworking,andgenerouspersonbuysalotteryticketandwinstenmilliondollars,onlytodieinanautocrashtwodayslater,theironywouldreachtragicproportions.Whensituationalironyreachesthisscale,itisoftencalledcomicironyorironyoffate.Suchironytypicallysuggeststhatpeoplearepawnstomaliciousforces.3.IronyandtheCooperativePrinciple3.1TheCooperativePrinciple“AmericanphilosopherH.P.Gricemadeanattempttoexplainthecourseofnaturalconversation,inwhichimpliedmessagesarefrequentlyinvolved.Hisideaisthatinmakingconversation,theparticipantsmustfirstofallbewillingtocooperate；otherwise,itwouldnotbepossibleforthemtocarryonthetalk.ThisgeneralprincipleiscalledtheCooperativePrinciple,abbreviatedasCP.Itgoesasfollows:Makeyourconversationalcontributionsuchasrequiredatthestageatwhichitoccursbytheacceptedpurposeordirectionofthetalkexchangeinwhichyouareengaged.Theprinciplebreaksdownintoparticularmaximsthatsummarizeparticularassumptionsaboutconversation.DifferentpragamaticistsproposedifferentnumbersofthesemaximsbutasoriginallyproposedbyGrice,thePrinciplecontainedfoursetsofmaxims:Themaximsofquantitya).Makeyourcontributionasinformativeasisrequired(forthecurrentpurposesoftheexchange)b).Donotmakeyourcontributionmoreinformativethanisrequired.ThemaximsofqualityTrytomakeyourcontributiononethatistrue:a).Donotsaywhatyoubelievetobefalse.b).Donotsaythatforwhichyoulackadequateevidence.ThemaximofrelationBerelevant.ThemaximsofmannerBeperspicuous:a).Avoidobscurityofexpression.b).Avoidambiguity.c).Bebrief(avoidunnecessaryprolixity).d).Beorderly.”113.2IronyasviolationofCPGriceclassifiesironyasanexampleofimplicatureandshowshowonecanaccountforironyasacaseoffloutingtheCooperativePrinciplebyviolatingthemaximofquality.Examples:(1)Thisdiligentstudentseldomreadsmorethananhourpermonth.12Theintendedmeaningofthespeakeristhisisalazystudent.However,heusesanoppositeof“lazy”diligent.Diligentishereusedtoproducesarcasm.(2)A:Sorry,Mary.Icannotgiveyoualiftafterwork.Ihavetomeetafriendattheairport.B:Thankyouverymuch.Itsverykindofyou.13Inthisconversation,BdoesnotreallypraiseA.Heuses“Itsverykindofyou.”toshowhisdissatisfactioninfact.(3)A:Johnsayshetopsusallatfootball.B:Ilikehischeek.14WhenBsaid,“Ilikehischeek.”,heinfringedthequalitymaximtotellalie.ItiseasilyinferredfromthecontextthatBusestheoppositeword“like”tomeanhistrulydislike.(4)RoseandDavidmetanelegantwomanonthestreet.Theyappreciatedherfineactionuntilshesuddenlyspittedphlegmtothefloor.Underthissituationcomesthediscourseasfollows:Rose:Sheisreallylovely,isntshe?David:Shesureis.15Rosetendedtouse“lovely”tolaughattheelegantwomanspooractionhere.Theseinstancesareviolationsofthemaximoftruthbysayingsomethinghe/shedoesnotreallybelieve.Intheseironyacts,indirectnessseemslikeashieldwhichmasksagenuineintentconsideredriskybythespeakers.Theironicalutterancesnotonlyconveymessagesbutalsoconcealwhatthespeakersreallybearinmind.ThespeakersviolatetheCooperativePrincipleconsciouslytoexpresstheirrealmeaninginindirectway.Ironyhelpstomaketheutterancemuchmorehumor.4.IronyandthePolitenessPrinciple4.1ThePolitenessPrincipleLeechthinksthatGricesCooperativePrincipleinitselfcannotexplainwhypeopleemployindirectnesswhileconveyingwhattheymean.Inaddition,differentsocietiesmayoperatemaximsindifferentways.TheremustbesomeapparentexceptionsinactualcommunicationthatCooperativePrinciplecannotexplain.ThereforeLeechproposestosupplementGricesCooperativePrinciplewiththePolitenessPrinciple(PPforshort).Thestrategiesaresummarizedbelow:Tact:a).Minimizecosttoother.b).Maximizebenefittoother.Generosity:a).Minimizebenefittoself.b).Maximizecosttoself.Approbation:a).Minimizedispraiseofother.b).Maximizepraiseofother.Modesty:a).Minimizepraiseofself.b).Maximizedispraiseofself.Agreement:a).Minimizedisagreementbetweenselfandother.b).Maximizeagreementbetweenselfandother.Sympathy:a).Minimizeantipathybetweenselfandother.b).Maximizesympathybetweenselfandother.16Altogether,themaximsaresaidto“save”theCooperativePrinciple,theyexplainwhathappensinthecasewhenitisbreached.Example:Forrest:Ionlycaughtfive.BoatSalesman:Acouplemoreandyoucanhaveyourselfacocktail.17ThisisadialogueinthemovieForrestGump.AlthoughBubbatellsForresteverythingaboutshrimping,butForreststillfindsthatshrimpingistough.Oneday,heonlycatchesfiveaftera-whole-dayhardworking.TheboatsalesmanjustmakesajoketoForrestinordertocheerhimup.Meanwhile,healsotellsForrestafactthatForrestcatchestoolittle.ItisaninstanceofpolitenessaccordingtothePolitenessPrinciple.4.2TheIronyPrincipleAccordingtoLeech,ironyisasecond-orderprinciplethatbuildsonorexploitsthePolitenessPrinciple.TheIronyPrinciple(IPforshort)maybestatedinageneralformasfollows:“Ifyoumustcauseoffence,atleastdosoinawaywhichdoesntovertlyconflictwiththePolitenessPrinciple,butallowsthehearertoarriveattheoffensivepointofyourremarkindirectly,bywayofimplicature.”18IronycanhappenifthespeakerovervaluesthePolitenessPrinciplebyblatantlybreakingamaximoftheCooperativePrincipleinordertoupholdthePolitenessPrinciple.Forexample:A:Geoffhasjustborrowedyourcar.B:Well,IlikeTHAT!19AccordingtotheIronyPrinciple,wecaninterpretthisironicalutterancethisway:whatBsaysispolitetoGeoffandisclearlynottrue.ThereforewhatBreallymeansisimpolitetoGeoffandtrue.LeechbelievesthattheIPcanmakeaspeakerimpolitewhileseemingtobepolite.Inbeingpolite,aspeakerisoftenfacedwithaclashbetweentheCPandthePP.Thespeakerhastochoosehowfarto“trade-off”theCPagainstthePP.Inbeingironic,aspeakerexploitsthePPinordertouphold,ataremotelevel,theCP.TheIronyPrincipleservesthepurposeofavoidingdirectcriticismthroughbeingantisocial,beinginsincerelypolite.Thi