Discourse Analysis Of The Dramatic Dialogues In The Film The Bridges Of Madison County

Discourse analysis is an interdisciplinary research, the theory and methodology of which, in recent years, have been extensively applied to the interpretation of the dramatic texts. Film, as one of the extended forms of drama with distinctive features, has long been neglected by the stylisticians.This thesis attempts to apply the theory and techniques of discourse analysis to the analysis of dramatic dialogues in the film, taking the American film The Bridges of Madison County as a case. The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 film adaptation of Robert James Waller's classic. Its exploration of the extramarital love and description of love between the middle aged delicately reveal their value orientation and affectivity stability. As one of the most influential films, The Bridges of Madison County makes a strong impression on the audience with its humorous, implied and expressive dramatic dialogues.This thesis makes a study of the dramatic dialogues from the perspective of discourse analysis with Grice's Cooperative Principle and the Conversational Implicature, Leech's Politeness Principle, and Brown and Levinson's Face-saving Theory in the film to explore the personalities of the heroine Francesca and the hero Robert and their relationship in specific context of situation. Through the qualitative method and quantitative method, Robert's gentleness, warm-heartedness and open-mindedness are presented, so are Francesca's loneliness, fragilility and bravery. Their relationships change with the dialogues also.I really hope that this study can help people better understand the personalities of the two characters and their relationship, adding to the enjoyment of the film.