| This study attempts to analyze the verbal humor in sitcom based on the theory ofcognitive linguistics Blending Theory. The data selected in this study is Frasier whichsuccessively won the Emmy Award5times, the two actors in which all belong to middleclass family in American society, and hold PhD degree. Their humorous languages are fullof various humor generation strategies, which reflect the unique humor wisdom of thislanguage communication group. However, up to now, there is no research which focuseson this aspect of study.This paper intends to discuss the generation and cognitive mechanism of verbalhumor in Frasier from the perspective of Blending Theory. Blending Theory as the core ofthe cognitive linguistics consists of four distinctive dynamic networks, according to whichthe analysis of the meaning construction can be conducted. It is proposed in1990s, whichwas applied to many researches of the linguistic phenomenon by scholars, such as theresearch on the advertisement and literary works. In addition it can guide the translationtheories and practice. Many scholars hold the view that this theory has its advantages inanalyzing the dynamic meaning construction of the humor language. This paper mainlyexplores the cognitive mechanism of humor according to the four research questions, andthen discusses them by adopting the four networks of Blending Theory.The research purposes of this paper include the following aspects:1) Elaborate theadvantages of Blending Theory used to provide explanation for the cognitive mechanismof the verbal humor in sitcom, and discuss the superiority of Blending Theory in terms ofthe analysis of the humor generation mechanism in sitcom.2) Explore the characters ofthe humor generation mechanism and its effects on the humor generation.3) Probe anddiscuss the cultural and psychological motivation behind the process of meaningconstruction of humor in Frasier and illustrate the relation between the meaningconstruction result and the humor generation.4) Explore the characteristics of themiddle-class’ verbal humor and the humorous social communicative strategies.Through careful analysis, the findings are as follow:1) Blending Theory has itsadvantages in analyzing the dynamic meaning construction of the complicated humorlanguage. Compared with the rhetorical devices, Blending Theory can clearly pint out which part of the information is triggered and involved in the blending process. What’smore, the four networks of Blending Theory all have their distinct advantages inexplaining verbal humor in sitcom. They are the power to explain the connection betweendifferent objects; the power to explain the humor generated by comparison; the power toexplain the highly innovative metaphor; and the power to strengthen the humorous effect.2) The intellectuals’ personalities are used to create the humorous effect. In addition,Blending Theory focuses on the dynamic meaning construction. Consequently, theblending network is constantly modified by the information which can provide newbackground knowledge and frames.3) Frasier makes use of the generation gap,intellectuals’ showing off their quality of gentlemen, and their using of the cross-culturalcommunication strategies, to achieve the humorous effect.4) The intellectuals are fond ofshowing off their encyclopedic knowledge, and they are good at summarizing the generalfeatures of different things. In addition, their metaphorical and metonymical thinking helpthem to express feeling implicitly.It is expected that the findings in this paper can help people have a betterunderstanding of the sitcoms, especially for the understanding of characters of theAmerican higher intellectuals’ verbal humor. What’s more the author hopes that thefindings could make people understand the theme of Frasier one step further. In the meantime, the author hopes that this paper can provide a new research method and angle to theapplied study of Blending Theory. |
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