An Analysis Of English Humor Text From The Perspective Of Register Theory Based On 2 Broke Girls

Humor appears in every aspect of our daily life, its content is rich and involves a wide range, therefore, humor draws more and more attention from many fields such as linguistics, logic, psychology, sociology, etc. The achievements in these fields, in a way expands the research scope of humor, which has already entered a multidisciplinary and diversified stage. However, in terms of linguistics, through investigation, the author found that most research in linguistics, started from the perspective of cognitive linguistics and pragmatics but rarely from the perspective of register theory to explore humor discourse.Based on the register theory in functional linguistics, the paper has made use of corpus in representative classic sitcom 2 Broke Girls, selected 45 humor examples from Season 1 to Season 4 in 2 Broke Girls, adopted the method of observation and it also has described corpus to do the objective descriptive research. The author intends to study three factors and their secondary factors of register theory:field of discourse, tenor of discourse as well as mode of discourse. And at the same time, the the paper has analyzed the characteristics, realization forms in the process of communication in 2 Broke Girls, as well as the functions of constructing humor.Research has shown 3 points as follows:Firstly, in 2 Broke Girls the field of discourse includes three secondary factors:topic, activity and environment. Through the corpus we find out that contradictory topics, diversion of topic, topic comparison and topic extension are methods adopted during the process of humor construction. It applies a sharp opposition or contrast and disparity. And on guided associated topics, layer upon layer, through the progressive principle it diverts the topic skillfully to create the fun of humor. Secondly, tenor of discourse has the characteristics of power, contact and affect in 2 Broke Girls, which breaks the routine and beyond people's expectation in communicative activities, producing some special humorous effects. And lastly the mode of discourse consists of three aspects:medium, feedback and planning. In the play the author makes use of the basic types of written, spoken, non-language and combines with the medium to achieve some various communicative intentions, leading to witty and humorous effect. In addition, planning displays the features of incongruity, adaptability and harmony in the play, generating the funny effect of expressions.Through the research, the author believes that to make the use of sitcom as the research objective can expand the application of register theory. In addition, it helps learners to grasp the features of English humorous discourse from the perspective of register theory. To a certain degree, it may enrich the study of humor and improves its ability to a better understanding and appreciate or even create humor.