A Relevance-Theoretic Analysis Of The Generative Mechanisms In English Jokes

This thesis is a relevance-theoretic analysis of English jokes, aiming at probing into the generative mechanisms in English jokes based on Relevance Theory.Confirming and utilizing the previous studies, this thesis intends to enrich the study of jokes from the point of view of Relevance Theory.This study presents three generative mechanisms in English jokes. They are the mechanism of misunderstanding, the mechanism of deliberate misinterpretation and the mechanism of obstacles. It is these mechanisms that make jokes be jokes.Hopefully,this thesis may play a role in the extension of the application of Relevance Theory, and inspire the study of Chinese jokes and some other linguistic forms similar to jokes as well. In addition, it is expected that this study may offer some help to the better understanding and appreciation of jokes and provide directions to communication to some extent.