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Conceptual Metonymy Approach To Scalar Humor

Posted on:2011-10-18Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:N N SunFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360302490268Subject:Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
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Humor is a pervasive human phenomenon, which plays important roles in many spheres and aspects of life, especially in human interactions. It is embodied in different forms and performs different functions. The study of humor can date back to the time of the great philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, etc.The development of cognitive science and cognitive linguistics results in radical changes of people's ideas about metonymy. Metonymy is not just viewed as a kind of rhetorical device based on substitution. Now we recognize that metonymy is a mode of thinking which derives from our daily experience arid helps organize our thought language and action. Metonymy is a conceptual phenomenon and cognitive process in which the designated vehicle provides mental access to the target (Lakoff and Johnson 1983:38) .Base on the previous study of conceptual metonymy and verbal humor, taking a special humor phenomenon---scalar humor as subject, and conceptual metonymy as a tool for analysis, this paper intends to expound the function of conceptual metonymy in the process of incongruity an resolution within scalar humor. With illustrations of examples, this paper arrives at the conclusion that the production and construal of laugh-elicitor mechanism in scalar humor show their metonymic thinking mode. To a great extent, incongruity-resolution base on the working of conceptual metonymy. It indicates that from the perspective of conceptual metonymy, humorous effect in scalar humor will be influenced by the metonymic image, the length of metonymic chain, and the selection of reference-point.
Keywords/Search Tags:scalar humor, conceptual metonymy, reference-point, metonymic inference
PDF Full Text Request
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