The Explanatory Power Of Conceptual Integration Theory For Satirical Humor

For centuries, the studies of humor have been limited to the fields of physiology, sociology and psychology. With the development of cognitive linguistics, the research of humor has extended to semantics, pragmatics and so on. Satirical humor is the juxtaposition of humor and satire. Little evidence has been given to the analysis of this kind of humor from the perspective of cognitive linguistics. Proposed by Fauconnier and Turner, conceptual integration theory presents us a dynamic process of the meaning construction rather than a static cognitive semantic frame which is advocated by traditional cognitive linguistics. The aim of the present thesis is to testify the explanatory power of conceptual integration theory for the analysis of satirical humor in English fiction.In order to achieve the goal, this thesis chooses Hard Times written by Charles Dickens who was skillful at using satirical humor. The thesis begins with the introduction to conceptual integration network which includes generic space, input space, the blend, cross-mapping, projection, composition, completion and elaboration. It further makes an analysis of mental mechanism in satirical humor construction in four types of conceptual integration networks. Based on that analysis, it can be concluded that context and vital relations play a significant role in the understanding of satirical humor in English fiction.This thesis makes an analysis of satirical humor in Hard Times by dint of conceptual integration theory. Through the studies of satirical humor in conceptual integration network, the explanatory power of conceptual integration theory in interpreting satirical humor in literary text has been verified. Moreover, this thesis also provides a new angle for the readers to understand and appreciate such kind of language phenomenon in English fiction.