违反合作原则视角下《破产姐妹》的言语幽默分析（英语专业）

摘要

在《逻辑与会话》一文中，格莱斯认为，人们在社交过程中遵守一定的交际原则，使

言语交际的双方能够理解彼此的意图，互相配合，从而达到交流的目的。在此基础上，格

莱斯提出了合作原则及其四个准则：数量准则、质量准则、关系准则和方式准则，之后这

一原则成为了语用学的核心内容，并作为指导人们言语交际的重要原则。合作原则是话语

交际的各方为了相互合作而共同遵守的原则。在日常交际的会话过程中，交谈双方出于某

种需要，往往会故意违反合作原则，幽默效果也由此产生。幽默作为一种特殊的语言现象，

在文学、影视、广告、社会交际中随处可见，而且其常以会话形式出现，所以言语幽默有

着鲜明的语用特征。

美国情景喜剧中充满了大量诙谐幽默的情节和对白，深受我国英语学习者的青睐，是

学习英语口语，听力，了解美国文化和美国式幽默的有效途径.《破产姐妹》因其简明的主

旨、鲜活的人物设置和简练易懂的对白在国内外受到广泛的关注。因此本文从违反合作原

则的角度分析《破产姐妹》中的言语幽默，并探析合作原则的违反对其的作用C

关键词：言语幽默；合作原则；《破产姐妹》

ABSTRACT

InthearticleLogicandConversation,Gricearguedthatpeopleobservecertain

communicativeprinciplesintheprocessofsocialinteractionsothatthetwopartiesofverbal

communicationcanunderstandeachother'sintentionsandcooperatewitheachother,thus

achievingthepurposeofcommunication.Onthisbasis,GriceproposedthePrincipleof

Cooperationanditsfourguidelines:theQuantityGuideline,theQualityGuideline,the

RelationshipGuidelineandtheMannerGuideline,afterwhichthisprinciplebecamethecore

contentofcommunicationandservedasanimportantprincipletoguidepeople'scommunication.

ThePrincipleofCooperationistheprinciplethatbothpartiesofcommunicationabidebyinorder

tocooperatewitheachother.Intheprocessofdailycommunication,bothpartiesoftendeliberately

violatethePrincipleofCooperationforsomeneeds,andthehumorouseffectisthusproduced.As

aspeciallinguisticphenomenon,humorcanbefoundeverywhereinliterature,film,advertising

andsocialcommunication,wh沁hisoftenshownintheformofconversation.Soverbalhumorhas

distinctivelinguisticcharacteristics.

Americansitcomisfilledwithalotofwittyandhumorousplotsanddialogues,whichis

popularamongEnglishlearnersinChina,andisaneffectivewaytolearnoralEnglishandlistening,

andtounderstandAmericancultureandAmericanhumor.2BrokeGirlshasreceivedalotof

attentionathomeandabroadbecauseofitsconcisemainidea,freshandlivelycharactersettings

andconciseandunderstandabledialogues.Therefore,thispaperanalyzestheverbalhumorin2

BrokeGirlsfromtheperspectiveoftheviolationoftheCooperativePrincipleandexploresthe

roleoftheviolationoftheCooperativePrincipleonit.

Keywords:verbalhumor;thePrincipleofCooperation;2BrokeGirls

TableofContents

ChapterOneIntroduction............................................1

1.1Introductionto2BrokeGirls.................................................................................................1

1.2DefinitionofHumor..............................................................................................................1

ChapterTwoGrice'sPrincipleofCooperation.......................................................3

2.1FourPrinciplesofCooperation............................................................................................3

2.2ViolationoftheCooperationPrinciple.................................................................................3

ChapterThreeAnalysisofVerbalHumorin2BrokeGirlsinViolationoftheCooperation

Principle.............................5

3.1HumorGeneratedbyViolationofQuantityCriterionin2BrokeGirls.............................5

3.1.1ProvisionofExcessiveInformation-MaxandCaroline............................................5

3.1.2ProvisionofInsufficientInformation-MaxandCaroline.........................................6

3.2HumorGeneratedbyViolationofQualityCriterionin2BrokeGirls...............................7

3.2.1InformationwithSelf-awareFalse-MaxandEarl.....................................................7

3.2.2InformationwithInsufficientEvidence-MaxandCaroline.....................................8

3.3HumorGeneratedbyViolationofRelationshipCriterionin2BrokeGirls......................9

3.3.1InformationthatChangestheTopic-MaxandLeeHan............................................9

3.3.2InformationProvidedonIrrelevantTopic-SophieandCaroline..............................9

3.4HumorGeneratedbyViolationofModeCriterionin2BrokeGirls...............................10

3.4.1InformationwithVagueness-MaxandtheCustomer...............................................10

3.4.2InformationwithAmbiguity-MaxandCaroline....................................................11

3.4.3InformationwilhLengthy-CarolineandEarl.........................................................11

3.4.4InformationwithDisorganization-MaxandCaroline.............................................12

ChapterFourTheRoleofthePrincipleofCooperationon2BrokeGirls.........................12

4.1TheRoleofCharacterization.............................................................................................13

4.2RoleontheThemeoftheTVSeries..................................................................................13

ChapterFiveConclusion............................................14

Note.....................................15

Bibliography......................17

Acknowledgement...........................................................................................

ChapterOneIntroduction

1.1Introductionto2BrokeGirls

Thesitcomisaformofcomedythatfirstappearedontheradioandnowappearsonthebig

screen.Comediesusuallyhaveasetcast,oneormorestorylines,andrevolvearoundoneormore

setscenes.TodaysitcomsareoneofthemostpopularTVprogramsinmanycountriesaroundthe

world.Mostcontemporarysitcomsarcshotinfixedstudiosusingmulti-anglecameras,usually

withaliveaudienceparticipatingintherecordingoflaughter.

2BrokeGirlsisapopularsitcomamongAmericanyoungpeople.ItisveryclosetoAmerican

lifeandreflectsthesocialculture,customsandvaluesoftheUnitedStates.CreatedbyMichael

PatrickKingandWhitneyCummings',2BrokeGirlswascreatedbyCBSinSeptember2011.The

storywassetinWilliamsburg,Brooklyn,NewYork,andfocusedontheworkandlifeofMaxand

Caroline,twogirlsfromdifferentbackgrounds.Maxcamefromapoorfamilyandwasbroughtup

byasingleworking-classmother.Carolinewasthedaughterofawealthyfamily,butbecauseher

fatherwascaughtrunningaPonzischeme,allthefamilyassetswerefrozen.Atthebeginningof

theseries,shehadnomoneyandwasexcludedbytheupperclass.Soshehadtobereducedto

Brooklyn,workinginafast-foodrestaurantownedbyHan,whowasKoreanAmerican,and

becameMax'scolleague.Soonafter,CarolinemovedinwithMaxasherroommate,andIhetwo

quicklybecameclosefriends,workingtogethertoraisemoneytoopentheirownbakery.

Maxgrewupinaturbulentandpoorlife,withaveryincompetentmother.Aftergrowingup,

shelivedahardworkinglife,buthercharacterwasveryopen-minded,boldstyle,likeself-mockery

andsarcasmothers.Herhomemadecupcakeswerealsodelicious.

Theupper-classCarolinewasahighschoolstudentatWharton.Shewasbrightandmotivated.

Shewasgoodatmanagingmoney,andshesometimesexudedthelookofablondegirl.Shewanted

tostartasuccessfulcakebusinesswithMaxandgotontheroadtosuccessandwealth.

1.2DefinitionofHumor

Humorisentertainingandcomedic,itissomethingthatcancauseamusementand

spontaneouslaughter.Humorisnotjustfunnylikeajoke.Inmostcases,humorismeaningful.It

canleadpeopletothinkdeeplyaboutasocialphenomenonaftertheyhavelaughedatafunny

situation.Consideringtheprofoundmeaningbehindamusement,thenatureofhumordeservesto

beexploredindepth.Asaphenomenonuniquetohumansociety,humorplaysanimportantrole

inpeople'sdailycommunication.Humoriscapableofprovokingjoyorgivingothersmental

pleasureinapleasantmanner.

Humormentionedineverydaylifecanbedividedintosituationalhumorandverbalhumor.

Situationalhumormainlydependsonthesituationalcontextofcommunication,whileverbal

humormeansthathumorisconveyedthroughlanguage.Verbalhumorasalinguisticartisa

manifestationoflinguisticskill,whichisbasedonpeople'sdeepunderstandingofreallife.Humor

usesconcise,vivid,graphic,wittyorexaggerated,ironicformsoflanguagetoexpressideasor

opinions.Thegenerationofhumornotonlydependsontheinternalfactorsoflanguageitself,but

alsodependsontheuseoflanguageincontext.

ChapterTwoGrice*sPrincipleofCooperation

2.1FourPrinciplesofCooperation

TheAmericanphilosopherGrice,inhiskeynotespeechonLogicandDialogueatHarvard

University,expressedthemeaningofthePrincipleofCooperation,whichwasintendedto

communicatewithwords,changethedirectionofwords,andbeappropriate.Inhisopinion,all

verbalcommunicationactivitiesareaimedatachievingacommongoaloratleastamutually

acceptabledirection,andthewordsspokenbybothsidesoftheconversationareadvancing

towardsthisgoalordirection.Griceelaboratedseveralprinciplesandnormstoservelanguage

activities,conveylanguageinformationandshowthemeaningofwords.Gricebelievedthatthe

PrincipleofCooperationwasthebasicprinciplethatbothsidesofaconversationshouldabideby

inordertocarryonthecommunicationsmoothly.ThePrincipleofCooperation,insomesense,is

theunwrittenengagementthatthetwopartiesofaconversationshouldabidebywhen

communicating.Therefore,peopleabidebythePrincipleofCooperationtoensuretherealization

ofgoals.Subsequently,theCooperativePrinciplehasbecomethebasicconceptofpragmatics,

alsoknownastheCommunicativePrincipleortheConversationalPrinciple.

GricedividedtheCooperationPrincipleintotheMaximofQuantity,theMaximofQuality,

theMaximofRelationandtheMaximofManner.Simplyput,theMaximofQuantitymeansthat

theparticipantsshouldprovidejusttherightamountofinformation,nottoomuchortoolittle.The

MaximofQualityrefersto(hatbothparticipantsshouldutterauthenticwordsbackedbyenough

evidence.TheMaximofRelationmeansthatwhattheparticipantsuttershouldberelatedtothe

subjectatthattime.TheMaximofMannerreferstothattheparticipantsshouldutterinaconcise

andorganizedwaytoavoidambiguityandrepetition.Thefirstthreemaximsregulatethecontent

oftheutterancewhilethelastoneguidesthemannerofuttering.

2.2ViolationoftheCooperationPrinciple

Peopleindailycommunicationandconversation,basicallywillfollowiheQuantityCriterion,

QualityCriterion,RelationshipCriterion,ModeCriterionthesefourcriteria.However,incertain

situations,peoplesometimesintentionallyviolatetheCooperativePrincipletoachieveaparticular

effect.Inconversation,ifeveryonestrictlyfollowsthefourprinciplesofCooperationPrinciple,

theefficiencyandrationalityofverbalcommunicationwillbegreatlyimproved.However,these

fourguidelinesareonlyafewconventions,notstrictlanguagerules,andthereforecanbeviolated.

Griceshowsthatconversationalmeaningiscloselyrelatedtoitscontext.Accordingtothe

relationshipbetweenConversationalImplicatureandcontext,ConversationalImplicaturecanbe

dividedintotwocategories:OneisGeneralConversationalImplicature,whichdoesnotdepend

oncontext;ThesecondisSpecialConversationalMeaning,whichdependsoncontext.In

conversation,peoplewouldeuphemisticallyexpresssomecontent,theexpressionofinformation

nottoosharp.Bycombiningthepositions,formsandbackgroundsofthetwosides,thepaper

exploresthedeeptruemeaninghiddenunderthesurfacedialogue,whichistheconversational

meaning.Thisgivesbothsidesanextralayerofthinkingwhencommunicating.

ChapterThreeAnalysisofVerbalHumorin2BrokeGirlsinViolationof

theCooperationPrinciple

3.1HumorGeneratedbyViolationofQuantityCriterionin2BrokeGirls

Therearetwosub-criteriaundertheQuantitativeCriteria.Thefirstistospeakatthelevelof

detailrequiredforconversation.Thesecondpointisnottomakewhatthespeakersaysmore

detailedthanwhatisrequired.Inotherwords,theQuantitativeCriterionrequiresthespeakerto

providetherightamountofinformationinthecommunicationprocess,neithertoomuchnortoo

little,otherwisethespeakerfloutstheQuantitativeCriterion.Butthiscriterionexistsonlyinan

idealworld.Peopleintheirlivestrytoavoidansweringthequestionordon'twanttotalkaboutit,

orviolatetheQuantitativeCode.ThecharactersinsitcomsalsoviolatetheQuantitativeRule,

eitheraccidentallyordeliberately.Toomuchinformationornotenoughinformationcanproduce

humorouseffects.

3.1.1ProvisionofExcessiveInformation-MaxandCaroline

Whenspeakersprovidemoreinformationthanisrequired,itmeansthattheyflouttheRule

ofQuantityandthusgenerateconversationalmeaning.Thespeakermaywantthelistenertorealize

thattheyareemphasizingsomething,emphasizingtheirstatusorurgingthelistenertodo

something.

(1).CatOwner:Hi.Excuseme.WoulditheokayifIpulthisJliernexttoyourwindow?

Caroline:Sure.

CatOwner:Welostourcat,Jinxyylikeaweekagointhisneighborhood,(showingthepicture)

Haveyouseenher?

Caroline:No.1haven'tseenacatinalongtime./wasjustsayingtoheryesterday,*7haven7

seenacatinalongtime.”

Max:Um,howcomeyoudidn'thaveacollaronher?And,where'shernametag?Evenmy

motherhadanI.D.tagonme.Well,itwasafleacollar,but...Whydidittakeyousolongtoput

thesignsup?

CatOwner:Uni,what'shappening?

WhenMaxandCarolinesetthepetcatfreeasastray,thecatownercametoask.However,

CarolineandMax'sanswerswentfarbeyondtheinformationneededforcommunication,andthey

violatedtheMaximofQuantityincommunication.Carolinerepeatedguiltilythatshehadnotseen

akittenforalongtime.Carolinecouldhavejustsaid"No",butshewentoutofherwayto

emphasizethatshesawthecatyesterday.Caroline'sanswerwasmorethantheinformationthecat

ownerwantedtohear,sosheviolatedtheQuantitativeGuideline.Maxthenaskedthecat'sowner

whyhedidn'tputacollarandtagonthecat,andwhyhedidn'tpostasearchnoticeearlier,claiming

thathermotherusedtoputafleacollaronhimasachild.Thisseriesofrhetoricalquestionsalso

violatedtheMaximofQuantity.Max'srhetoricalquestionswerenottheinformationthatthe

inquirerneededandexpectedbutitwasexcessiveinformationthatdramaticallyshowedthe

confusionandfrustrationofthetwopeoplewhentheysetthepetcatfreeasastraycat,andthe

incoherentwordswhenthecatownercametoinquire.Thisoverloadofinformationalsogavethe

plotahumorouseffect.

(2).Caroline:Ohmygod!Isheyoufather?

Max：Yes,Heismyfather.Andmymotherisapieceofchalk.

CarolineaskedMaxifthemanatthestorewasherfather.Maxansweredintheaffirmative

byaddingsomethingabouthermother.ThisremarkviolatedtheMaximofQualityandwasmeant

toimplythathewasnotMax'sfatheratall.Maxdidnotneedtoaddthefollowingsentence,which

wasobviouslyredundantinformation.Thissentencedidn'tneedtobeexplained,butallowedthe

speakertounderstandthemeaningoftheconversation.Thedialoguemadetheaudiencelaughand

achievedthehumorouseffect.

3.1.2ProvisionofInsufficientInformation-MaxandCaroline

Theothertypeofinformationprovidedisevenless.Byprovidinglessinformationthan

requiredthespeakerisimplyingthattheyarefloutingQuantitativeGuideline.Thespeakerwants

thelistenertopayattentiontowhattheyaredoingortohidethingsabit.

(1).Max:So,doyouknowthepresident?

Caroline:I'vemethim.

Max:Heishot?

Caroline:He'sthepresident.

ThisconversationtookplaceafterMaxleamedthatMartinChanningwasCaroline'sfather.

MartinChanningwasonceafamousandwealthyAmerican.MaxthoughtCarolinemusthavemet

alotoffamouspeople.Asanordinaryperson,includingherself,shedidnothavetheopportunity

tomeetthosecelebrities.AndwhenshelearnedthatCarolinehadmetthepresidentoftheircountry,

sheaskedCarolineiftheirpresidentwashandsome,becauseshethoughthewas.BecauseCaroline

onlyansweredthathewasthepresident,Carolineprovidedlessinformationthanrequired,soshe

floutedtheQuantityPrinciplebyprovidinginsufficientinformation.Carolynhintedin

conversationthathewasjustapresidentanddidnotmentionwhetherthepresidentwashandsome,

suggestingthatthepresidentwasnotassexyaspeoplethink.

(2).Caroline:Ifthere'sanything/candotohelpyouthroughyourbreakupwithRobbie.

Max:Oh.Thanks,butI'mfine.Andwe'reworking.Well,oneofusis.

Inthisepisode,MaxandRobbiebrokeup.CarolinetriedtocomfortMax,butMaxtold

Carolinethattheywereworking,butonlyoneofthetwowasworking.Maxmeantthatshewas

theonlyoneworking,andCarolinewasnot.Maxconveyedhermeaninginanindirectway,by

providinglessinformationtoimplythatCarolinewasnotworking.Therefore,Maxviolatedthe

MaximofQuantity.Theaudiencecouldseethepunchlinewhenwatchingtheepisode.Thiswas

typicalincasesofhumorwherelessinformationwasprovided.

(3).Max:Areyourgirlfriendsblackdragqueens?Oh,awesomeStrokestee.Iwenttothis

concert,butIcouldn'taffordIheshirt.

Caroline:Oh,we'redonewithme.

Max:Iwenttoseethemonthistourthesummeraftermyjunioryear.Itwasareallywarm

night,andIsuckoutofthehouse,andweallma-ahem.Whatever.(laughtrack)

Caroline:Andwhat?What,didsomethinggreathappenthenightyougottheT?Max:Look

atme,doesitlooksomethinggreateverhappens?

ThisconversationwasMax'srecollectionofthesummernightshewenttotheconcertwhen

shesawtheT-shirtshecouldn'taffordbefore.AsMaxreminisced,shetoldCarolineaboutit.But

whenshetalkedaboutwhathappenedthatnight,shestoppedabruptly.Theinformationomitted

byMaxmustbeaboutsex.Toavoidembarrassment,Maxusedrhetoricaldevicesandstoppedthe

conversationabruptly.TheinformationsheprovidedwasinsufficientandviolatedtheNormof

Quantity.Theeffectofhumorwasreflectedintheabruptendingofthesentence.

3.2HumorGeneratedbyViolationofQualityCriterionin2BrokeGirls

TheQualityCriterionrequirestruthfulnessindiscourse.Theinterlocutorshouldnotsay

anythingthatheorsheknowstobefalseorthatlackssufficientevidence.Inactualcommunication,

however,speakersusefalseorinsufficientlysubstantiatedstatementstohidetheirtruefeelings,

eitheroutofpolitenessortoachievesomerhetoricaleffectofrepartee,metaphor,orexaggeration,

inordertosavethefaceofthelistener.Theprotagonistoftheplayoftenviolatesthetruthfulness

oftheexpression,thusproducingacomiceffect.

3.2.1InformationwithSelf-awareFalse-MaxandEarl

Inreallife,incertainspecificsituations,peopletendtotellliesespeciallywell-intentioned

liestoachievehumorouseffects.CarolineaccusedMaxofherabilitytosell,butMaxwasnot

convinced.MaxsawEarlatthecashregistersellingCDs,sosheaskedhimhowhewasselling

today,andtooktheopportunitytoshowthemhersalesskills.

Max:Hi,youguyslooklikemusiclovers.ThisisthesaxophoneCDyou'llhear,recordedby

ourcashier,EarlSamson.Hehasplayedwithallthegreatplayers,Coltrane,Hancockand

Bacharach.Hismusichasbeenderailedduetoheroinaddiction.Butnowheisdeanandawake,

andheisstillfollowinghisdreams.Only$9.95persaxophoneCD.Whowants.

Caroline:Isanyofthattrue?

Earl:Nope,sheevenmadeupmydamnlastname.Thatgirlcansell.Oh!Max.

ThiswasMaxsellingEarl'ssaxophonealbum.MaxtriedtosellEarl'salbumbytellingthe

cashierathisstorethatEarlhadcollaboratedwithmanyfamouscomposers.However,Earldid

notworkwithcomposersortakedrugs.WhatMaxsaidwasself-awarefalseinformation,soshe

violatedtheQualityGuideline.AlthoughbothCarolineandEarlknewMaxwasn'ttellingthetruth.

Theydidn'tendtheconversationandthecustomerneverheardthatthecashierhadeverreleased

analbum.Butshetookadvantageofyoungpeople'sobsessionandseductiontofabricatetheabove

lies.SoonshesoldfourCDS.Whenviewerswatchedtheplot,theycouldalsoguessthatMax's

wordswerehomemadeandfalse,causingajoke.Finally,Earlpraisedherasanaturalsaleswoman,

toawryandhumorouseffect.

3.2.2InformationwithInsufficientEvidence-MaxandCaroline

TheQualityCriterionstipulatesthatspeakersshouldnotsaythingslackingevidencein

conversationeither.However,ineverydayconversations,peopletendtosaythingswithout

evidenceasawaytocoveruptheirhearts.

Max:Okay...nowdivorcetheketchups.

(Carolineslidestheketchupbottlesawayfromeachother.)

Max:Juststop.There'snosuchthingasdivorchigtheketchups.You'veneverwaitress'da

dayinyourlife.

Caroline:(SMILES)Yes,/have.

Max:YouexpectmetobelievethatafterwatchingthatwholeTempleGrandinroutine?

ThisconversationwasaboutCaroline'sfirstjobasawaitressinarestaurant.Maxaskedher

todosomebasicwaitresswork,butCarolinehadnoideawhatMaxwastalkingabout,soMax

thoughtCarolinehasneverworkedasawaitressbefore.EspeciallyaftershereadtheentireTemple

Grandinprogram.Carolinedidn'tdotheTempleGrandinroutine.Ineffect,Maxwascomparing

Caroline'sbehavioratworkwithTempleGrandin'sroutinetoconveyherimplicitimplicationthat

herbehaviorwassoinappropriateforthejobthatMaxcouldn'ttrusther.Carolinehidedher

feelingsbysayingsheworkedasawaitress.Althoughsheknewshewaslying,shehadnoproof

thatshehadeverworkedasawaitress.TheaudiencecouldseethatCarolinedidnothaveenough

evidencetoprovethatshehadworkedasawaitress,soshedefiedthequalityguidelines,which

alsohadahumorouseffect.

3.3HumorGeneratedbyViolationofRelationshipCriterionin2BrokeGirls

TheRelationshipRulerequiresthatspeechbeon-topicandthatitnotbeirrelevanttothe

topicathand.IfaspeakerintentionallyviolatestheRelationalNormbysayingsomethingoff-

topic,bothpartiesarestillinthesamecontextofthetopicatthepragmaticlevel,andthelistener

canreasonandunderstandthespeaker'srealthoughts.Insitcoms,thehumorouseffectoftencomes

fromthedeliberateviolationoftheRelationshipRulebythetwoparties,andtheseemingly

irrelevantconversationhidesthelaughingpoint.

3.3.1InformationthatChangestheTopic-MaxandLeeHan

TheRelationalPrinciplerequiresthatwhatbothpartiestoaconversationsayberelevantto

thetopic.However,somepeopleanswerthewrongquestionsinaconversation,speakindifferent

ways,anddeviategreatlyfromthetopicoftheconversation,thusgeneratingsomelaughs.

Max:Wheredoyouevenfindthesepeople?TheRussianhooker,theonebeforethatwasa

methaddict.

Mr.Lee:Youtrainher,Iamboss.

TheaboveconversationtookplaceinthekitchenofarestaurantwhereMaxworkedpart-time

asawaiter.AfterMr.Li,therestaurant'sowner,firedPaulina,theRussianwaitress,hehiredanew

one.Thenewwaitressdidn'tlooklikeawaitressatall.Maxthoughtherbosswasalwayslooking

forincrediblepeopletobewaitresses,soMaxwantedtoknowwhereandhowherbossfound

them.However,Mr.Lee'sanswerviolatedtheRuleofRelationship.Insteadofansweringthename

oftherestaurant,hechangedthesubjectandaskedMaxtotrainthewaitressandbecomeherboss.

Thistooktheconversationofftopic.ThetopicMr.Leeansweredhadnothingtodowiththe

questionMaxasked,soMr.LeefloutedtheRelationshipRule.Leedidn'twanltotalkaboutit.He

thoughtthatwithstricttraining,nomatterwhatkindofpersoncouldbeagoodwaiter,andhe

thoughtMaxshouldagreewiththis.Lee'sanswerwasadeliberateviolationofRelationshipNorm

andadistraction,buttheaudiencecouldstillgetasenseofwhatLeewasreallythinkinginhis

answers.Therefore,humorwasalsodisplayedinthedialogue.

3.3.2InformationProvidedonIrrelevantTopic-SophieandCaroline

Sophie:Oh,thekingdomofcupcakes.Oh.

Carolyn:Yes,wehaveacupcakebusiness.We'veonlyjuststartedandwe'realreadydoing

justfine.Maxisthebaker.Sayhello,Max.

Max:1knowpeopleinthemob.

ThisconversationtookplacewhentheIwogirlsfirstmetSophiewhenshecametothestore

tobuyacake.CarolineaskedMaxtosayhellotoSophie.Maxsaidsheknewpeopleinthemob,

andheranswerviolatedRelationshipCriterion.BecauseshewassupposedtosayhellotoSophie,

butMaxsaidsomethingirrelevant,sosheprovidedirrelevantinformationandmadetheaudience

laugh.Onthefaceofit,herremarkshadnothingtodowiththetopicgoingonbetweenthem.From

adeepperspective,herwordscontainedthereasonforhersayingso.Hermeaningwasthatshe

thoughtSophieknewsomeoneinthegang,andshewasafraidthatSophiewouldprostituteher

cupcakesfbrfree,soshejustsaidanirrelevantword.Basedonthegivencontext,onecanguess

themeaningofthethreatfromthisirrelevantanswer,resultinginahumorouseffect.

3.4HumurGeneratedbyViolationofMudeCriterionin2BrokeGirls

TheModeGuidelinerequiresthespeakertobeconcise,avoidobscurewords,shouldnotsay

thingsthatareeasytocauseambiguity,andspeakinanorganizedmanner.Thehumorin2Broke

GirlsthatviolatestheRuleofMannerismainlyproducedthroughdisorganization.

3.4.1InformationwithVagueness-MaxandtheCustomer

TheMaximofMannerrequiresclarityinwhatbothpartiesaresaying.Somepeople,however,

mumbleinco