| Prison Break is an popular American television series that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company from 2005 until 2009. The story revolves around Lincoln Burrows, who was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and his brother, Michael Scofield, who made an elaborate plan to help Lincoln Burrows escape his death sentence. This thesis analyses the conversations between Michael Scofield and other people in the prison form two perspectives of pragmatics, which may widen the application of pragmatics among prisoners. It is hoped that this thesis will help audience have a better understanding of the application of pragmatics in television series as well as the hidden meaning in the conversations in television series.Two theories are employed in this thesis, i.e., Grice's Cooperative Principle (CP)and Leech's Politeness Principle(PP). CP, one of the guiding principles in people's language communication, can offer a clear explanation of what the speakers literally means and what he tires to imply, which plays a more significant role to the prisoners who are limited about not only their language but their actions as well. PP, however, a necessary supplement to CP, can give a better explanation about why people deliberately violate CP under some certain circumstances. From the analysis, we can find that because of the complicated interpersonal relationship among prisoners, Michael Scofield has to choose his words carefully in order to get out of the prison.From the analysis of thirty six examples from Prison Break, the author finds that the conversational implicatures are generated by deliberating violation of CP and PP. Under a special background, prison, it will be not helpful for Michael Scofield to carry out his breaking-out plan if he observes CP and PP. Other prisoners, on the other hand, adopt the same strategy in order to break out the prison together with Michael Scofield. |
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