Humour and Grice's Cooperative Principle in "The Big Bang Theory"

Seminar Paper , 2017 , 16 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics

This paper focuses on the pragmatic account of the American sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" with Grice and the cooperative principle as its theoretical background. It is based on the assumption that verbal humour violates Grice ́s cooperative principle.

The aim is to explain how humour is generated and perceived in certain contexts. A data analysis is employed to provide an answer to the question if humour is created by disrespecting Grice’s maxims of cooperation. It is investigated how humour is created by the violation of the maxims and which effect this has.

Table of Contents

2.1 CONVERSATIONAL MAXIMS
2.2 IMPLICATURE
2.3 NON-OBSERVANCE OF THE MAXIMS
2.3.1 FLOUTING A MAXIM
2.3.2 VIOLATING A MAXIM
2.3.3 INFRINGING A MAXIM
2.3.4 OPTING OUT A MAXIM
2.3.5 SUSPENDING A MAXIM

3.1 DATA ANALYSIS
3.1.1 VIOLATION OF THE MAXIM OF QUANTITY
3.1.2 VIOLATION OF THE MAXIM OF QUALITY
3.1.3 VIOLATION OF THE MAXIM OF RELEVANCE
3.1.4 VIOLATION OF THE MAXIM OF MANNER

• College: University of Duisburg-Essen (Anglistik)
• Course: Pragmatics: Language in Use
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Julia Rabbe (Author)
• Publication Year: 2017
• Pages: 16
• Catalog Number: V385395
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668604964
• ISBN (Book): 9783668604971
• Language: German
• Tags: Linguistics, Linguistik, Pragmatics, Pragmatik, Grice, Cooperative Principle, Big Bang Theory, Humour, Humor, Humour Analysis, Maxims, Humor and Grice