A Pragmatic Analysis Of Figures Of Speech In The Tour Guide Language

This paper first combines the qualitative approach and descriptive method, along with the quantitative method, trying to reveal the frequency and distribution of figures of speech in the tour guide speech. Then by analyzing and classifying the most frequently-used figures of speech in tour commentaries selected from every province of China’s famous tourist attractions, different rhetorical effects and pragmatic functions are discussed in this thesis. In a word, the goals of the research are as follows:1. To offer a scientific data about the frequency and distribution of figures of speech in the tour guide language in order to find some regular rules and usages.2. To present the pragmatic functions of these figures of speech in the tour guide language under the guidance of CPThrough scientific study, seven figures of speech are found to be frequently-used in the tour guide language. They are: simile, rhetoric question, allusion, parallelism, metaphor, personification and hyperbole. The use of those figures of speech not only embodies the accurate, vivid, instrumental and lively features of the tour guide language but also reflects particular pragmatic functions: interpersonal communication; entertainment and emphasis functions.The basic qualities of tour guides directly influence the quality of tour guide service and the development of tourism trade. It can be seen that a piece of rhetorical and beautiful tour guide presentation is very necessary and important. During the process of guiding, tour guides try their best to draw tourists’ attention and lead the trip successfully. How to express vividly and attractively is the utmost technique for a tour guide. During the guiding process, figures of speech can be seen as the most commonly-used tool to beautify and burnish the explanation and introduction.This thesis mainly tends to analyze and present pragmatic functions of figures of speech in the tour guide language under the guidance of CP. The Cooperative Principle was put forward by Grice, which contains four maxims, namely quantity maxim, quality maxim, relevance maxim and manner maxim. Grice reckoned that CP is a set of rules governing the production and comprehension of utterances during daily conversations. During the process of communication, people tend to cooperate with each other to reach the common goal by adopting a series of strategies. The expressions of most figures of speech actually violate maxims of the CP.Based on the violation of the Cooperative Principle, the author hopes to explore the underlying linguistic meaning and pragmatic functions of figures of speech in the tour guide language. In addition, the tour guide language can be put more attention. Thus the tour guide speeches can be analyzed and perfected from various linguistic perspectives.