An In-depth Investigation Of Deviation Classification

With the development of linguistics, deviation, as a common phenomenon in literary language, is becoming an increasingly fascinating subject in the linguistic field. Seemingly writers are inclined to employ the unusual descriptions to express their thoughts to achieve the aesthetical significance and novelty. However, studies on deviation are insufficient and there still remain quite a few problems to be solved, among which, the classifications of deviation should be given priority to. So far many linguists make their ways of classification on it, but most of them are incomplete and contentious and so can hardly provide practical value for literature appreciation and interpretation. As a result it is not unnecessary to conduct further study of deviation, especially on its ways of classification.Therefore, based on EVIATION theory proposed by several leading linguists, mainly by Jan Mukarovsky and Geoffrey B. Leech, and the concept of CONTEXT in pragmatics, the thesis intends to give the author's own classification of deviation in order to make a humble inch forward, which may be a bold and new exploration and need to be tested.Then the author's efforts dwell on the validity of the newly-built classification method and its effect to literary interpretation and appreciation. The author makes the attempt to investigate the deviant phenomena in The Waste Land, a masterpiece of 20th century and thus demonstrates the applicability of the classification, so to adequately prove the stylistic values of the study.The thesis consists of five chapters:1) Introduction,2) Literature review,3) The author's study of deviation,4) A stylistic analysis of The Waste Land, and 5) Conclusion.Chapter 1 makes an introduction to the research background, which includes aims, significance, the theoretical foundation and the methodology of the study.Chapter 2 makes a review on some experts and scholars who have made or been making remarkable contributions on the study of deviation theory, especially their ways of classification of deviation, then the author summarizes their contributions, at the same time, points out some improvements are still desired in their studies.Chapter 3 mainly expounds on the author's viewpoint of deviation, such as its definition, its relation with norm or foregrounding; it also explores the author's classification of deviation, which is a brave experimental part and maybe will arouse controversy.Chapter 4 further tests and verifies the feasibility of the author's classification of deviation through stylistically analyzing The Waste Land, which is abundant in examples of deviation. It mainly illustrates how the deviation is applied to the poetry and what role it takes in the poem.Chapter 5 is the conclusion of the study which further reviews the result and functions of the study and discusses some probable problems on it.