ViolationofCooperativePrincipleandHumor

ViolationofCooperativePrincipleandHumorAbstract:Humorisakindofliterature,whichiscausedbyvariousreasons.CooperativePrincipleisoneofthemostimportantprinciplesinpragmatics,andmanyhumorscomefromviolationofcooperativeprinciple.Inthispaperexamplesaregivenandanalyzedtohelpdemonstratehowtechniquesareusedintheviolationofthefourmajormaximsinthecooperativeprincipleinordertoachievethehumoreffect.Keywords:conversationalimplicature;cooperativeprinciple;violation;maxim;humorI.IntroductionLanguagecommunicationdoesnotoccurinavacuum,italwaysoccursinacontext.Sincepragmaticshasbecomeabranchoflinguistic,numerouslinguists,philosophers,translators,languageteachershavebeeninvolvedinasystematicstudyofpragmatics,amongwhichOxfordphilosopherHerbertPaulGrice,whoproposedthetheoryofconversationalimplicature.AccordingtoGrice,theressomeregularityinconversation,inotherwords,weseemtofollowsomeprinciples.AndthisprincipleisknownasthecooperativeprincipleorCPforshort.InordertospecifytheCPfurther,healsointroducedfourcategoriesofmaxims.Thisservesasafoundationforthepointstheauthorwillmakeinthispaperonhowviolationofcooperativeprincipleanditsmaximscontributestohumor.Inthispaper,ahandfulofphenomenaoftheeffectofhumorachievedbyviolationofcooperativeprincipleanditsmaximshavebeenbroughttospotlight.Inthebodypartofthispaper,examplesaregivenandanalyzedtohelpdemonstratehowtechniquesareusedintheviolationofthefourmajormaximsinthecooperativeprincipleinordertoachievethehumoreffect.II.ViolationofCooperativePrincipleCooperativePrincipleisoneofthemostimportantprinciplesinpragmatics.Thatis,whenwespeakwegenerallyhavesomethingliketheCPanditsmaximsinourmindtoguideus.TheuseoftermsuchasprincipleandmaximdoesnotmeanthattheCPanditsmaximswillbefollowedbyeverybodyallthetime.Peopledoviolatethemandtelllies.Underthiscircumstance,theeffectofhumorisachievedinEnglishjokes.ViolationoftheMaximofQuantitiesAccordingtothemaximofQuantity,theinterlocutorsshouldmaketheircontributionsasinformativeasisrequiredforthecurrentpurposeoftheexchange.Theyshouldnotmaketheircontributionsmoreorlessinformativethanisrequired.ViolationoftheFirstMaximofQuantityThefirstmaximofQuantityisthatmakeyourcontributionasinformativeasisrequiredandtheviolationofitcanproducethehumoreffect,wecanprovethispointthroughthefollowingexamples.(1)Conversationbetweentwomen:A:“Iunderstandyouhadanargumentwithyourwife.owdiditendup?B:“Oh,shecamecrawlingtomeonherhandsandknees.QA:“Isthatso?Whatdidshesay?”B:“Shesaid,‘Comeoutfromunderthatbedandfightlightlikeaman”.(ReaderQsDigest,July1976)Man:Doesyourdogbite?Woman:No.(Themanreachesdowntopetthedog,lyingonthegroundinfrontofthewoman,thedogbitetheman’shands.)Man:ouch!Hey!Yousaidyourdogdoesnotbite.Woman:ItdoesnQt,butthatisnotmydog.Inexample(1),Whenthehusbandwhoafraidofhiswifetellhisfriendabouttheresultofhisfightingwithhiswife,hejustsaidhiswifecamecrawlingtohimonherhandsandknees,whichisjustapartofthewholething,butdidntprovidethemoreimportantinformation,soastocoverhisembarrassmentthathehidehimselfunderthebed.Thehearercanunderstandhimfromhislastwordsthathiswifecamecrawlingtohimonherhandsandkneestoshoutathimfightinglikearealman.Inexample(2),themanaskedthatifthewomansdogbiteandthewomanansweredno.Atthistimebothofthemreferredtothesamedog,thatisthewomansdog.utthewomandidntprovideenoughinformationthatthedoglyingonthegroundinfrontofherisnothers,whichmadethemanthinkthatthisdogishersanddonotbite.Sohetouchedthedogandwasbite.ThelaughableaboutthisconversationisthatthewomanviolatethefirstmaximofQuantitypurposelywhichmakeyourcontributionasinformativeasisrequired.ViolationoftheSecondMaximofQuantityThesecondmaximofQuantityisdonotmakeyourcontributionmoreinformativethanisrequiredandthehumoreffectcanalsobeachievedbyviolationofit.(1)A:Whydon’tyoustudyhard?B:Themorewestudy,themoreweknow.Themoreweknow,themoreweforget.Themoreweforget,thelessweknow.Thelessweknow,thelessweforget.Thelessweforget,themoreweknow.Sowhystudy?(2)Aunt:HowdidJimmydohishistoryexamination?Mother:Oh,notatallwell,butthere,itwasnothisfaults.Theyaskedhimthingsthathappenedbeforethepoorboywasborn.Inexample(1)example,BsaidasetofreasonsthatisnotreasonableanddoesnQtmakeanysense,andthisridiculousanswermadeuslaugh.ThepointBwantstoexpressstudyisnouse,andduringhisnonsensetalkthehumorproduced.Inexample(2),themothercanusethesimpleanswerthatoh,notatallwell,butsheprovidedmoreinformationthanitisrequiredonpurposeandascribedJimmysfailedinhisexamtothequestionshewasaskedbeforehesborn,itsoundsridiculousbutactuallyshesmakeahumorousexcuseforhisson.ViolationoftheMaximofQualityAccordingtothemaximofquality,theinterlocutorsshouldtrytomaketheircontributionstrue.Theyshouldnotsaywhattheybelievetobefalse,neithershouldtheysaythatforwhichtheylackadequateevidence.2.2.1ViolationoftheFirstMaximofQualityThefirstmaximofQualityisdonotsaywhatyoubelievetobefalse.Thefollowingexamplesreflecttheuseofthetechniqueofviolatingthemaximofqualityforhumorouspurposes.Bob:Ihadaroughtimethismorning.Thefarmercaughtmeinoneofhispeachtrees.Barbara:Gosh!Whatdidyoudo?Bob:ItoldhimoneofhispeachesfelldownandIwastryingtoputitback!Butler:Professor,thereisabillcollectoratthedoor.Itoldhimyouwereout,buthecouldnQtbelieveme.Absent-mindedprofessor:No?ThenIsupposeIwillhavetogooutandtellhimmyself.Attheendofthefirstconversation,Bobsays,“ItoldhimoneofhispeachesfelldownandIwastryingtoputitback!”WhathetoldthefarmercouldnQtbetrue,sohisresponseviolatesthemaximofquality,thusmakingtheconversationajoke.Inthesecondjoke,thebutlersayssomethinghebelievestobefalse.Theabsent-mindedprofessorisathome,yetthebutlersaysheisnot.Sincethebillcollectordoesn’tbelievewhatthebutlersaid,theabsent-mindedprofessorresponsetothebutlerunexpectedlythathehimselfwillgoouttotellthebillcollectorthatheisnotathome,whichisfunnilyfalseandviolatesthemaximofquality,thusachievingtheeffectofhumor.ViolationoftheSecondMaximofQualityThesecondmaximofQualityisdonotsaythatforwhichyoulackadequateevidencethehumoreffectcanalsobeachievedbyviolationofit.Wecanprovethepointthroughthefollowingexamples.(1)AfruitvendorinthePhilippinessoldawatermelontoanoldwomanandassuredherthatitwasverysweetbecauseitwasredinside,assherodehomeinajeepney,thevehicleskiddedandthewatermelonfelltothestreetandbrokeopen.Theoldwomanwassurprisedtoseethatthefruitwaspalepinkandnotred.Soshereturnedwithittothevendorandcomplaintloudly.“Madam,”repliedthevendor,“whenonefallsoutofavehicletothestreet,onecanexpecttoturnpale,howaboutawatermelon?(2)Traveler:CanIcatchthethreeoclocktraintoSpringfield?Ticketagent:Thatdependsonhowfastyoucanrun.Itleftfifteenminutesago.Inexample(1),theoldwomanfoundthatthewatermelonsheboughtwasnotlikethevendorassuredtoherthattheinsidewasred,thenshewenttoarguewiththevendor.Whilethevendorsaidthatwhenonefallsoutofavehicletothestreet,onecanexpecttoturnpale,howaboutawatermelon?Itseemedasifmakesense,actuallywhathesaidwaslackofenoughevidence.Obviously,thevendorviolatedthesecondmaximofQuality,makingtheconversationajoke.Inexample(2),theticketagentinthisconversationissupposedtoanswer,Imafraidyoucant.Itleftfifteenminutesago.uthesays,Thatdependsonhowfastyoucanrunwhichindicatesthatthetravelercancatchifherunsfastenough.Thiscouldnotbetrue.Sotheticketagentsresponseviolatesthemaximofquality,makingtheconversationajoke.2.3ViolationoftheMaximofRelationAccordingtothemaximofrelation,theinterlocutorsshouldmaketheircontributionrelevant.Thismaximdependsthatthehearershouldgiveanswersrelevanttowhatthespeakerhassaidintheirdialogue.Thetechniqueofviolatingthemaximofrelationisobviouslyusedinthefollowingjokes:(1)A:Whydoyouthinkbabiescrysomuch?B:Ifyoudidn’thaveanyhairandallyourteethwereoutandyourlegsweresoweakyoucouldnQtstandup,whatwouldyoudo?(2)Angrylibrarian:Pleasebequite.Thepeoplenearyoucantread.Littleboy:Why,theyoughttobeashamedofthemselves.I’vebeenabletoreadsinceIwassix.Indialogue(1),BdoesnQtgivetherealreasonwhybabiescrysomuch.Instead,heanswerssomethingthatisnotrelevanttothedialogue.Sohisresponseviolatesthemaximofrelationandmakesthedialogueajoke.Indialogue(2),inresponsetowhatthelibrariansays,thelittleboyissupposedtosaysomethinglike,Illbequite.Butinthedialogue,hedoesntrespondtothelibrarianwithanythingrelevant.Themaximofrelationisviolatedandtheeffectofhumorisachieved.Teacher:whatdowegetfromsheep?Boy:Wool.Teacher:Youarequiteright.Andwhatdowemakefromwool?Boy:Idontknow.Teacher:Well,what’syourcoatmadeof?Boy:MycoatwasmadefrommyfatherQscoat.(4)Anelderlywomanenteredachemistshopandasked,“whatdoyouhaveforgreyhair?”“Greatrespect,madamQ,repliedthesalesman.Inexample(),theteacheraskedWhatdowemakefromwool?andtheboyansweredIdontknow.Thentheteacheraskedwhatsyourcoatmadeof?inordertoinspiretheboytoanswerthatthecoatwasmadeofwool;however,theboyansweredhiscoatwasmadefromhisfatherscoat.Inthisoke,theeffectohumorisachievedbytheviolationofthemaximofrelationintheboysrespond.Inexample(2),whattheelderlywomanwantedtoaskwasifthechemistshophavesomethingforgreyhairandcouldhelphertoturnthegreyhairtoblack,butthesalesmansanswerwasgreatrespect.Theydidntsaythesamething,andtheanswerwasnotrelevant.Themaximofrelationisviolatedandtheeffectofhumorisachieved.2.4ViolationoftheMaximofMannerThemaximofmannerisdifferentfromothermaximsinthatitrelatesnottowhatissaid,butrather,tohowwhatissaidistobesaid.Theinterlocutorsshouldtrytoavoidobscurityandambiguitywhentryingtopassamessage.Theyshouldalsotrytobebriefandorderly.Thismaximrequiresthattheconveyedmeaningshouldbeadequatelyclear.2.4.1ViolationoftheFirstMaximofMannerThefirstsub-maximofManneristoavoidobscurityofexpression.AccordingtoGrice,iftheCPistooperate,thespeakermustintendthathispartnercanunderstandhiswordsdespitetheobscurityheimportsintohisutterance.Thussayingsomethingtooobscuretobeunderstandisviolatingthefirstmaximofmanner,whichisoftenemployedinjokestoproducehumor.Ayoungladweknowisstilltryingtodecipherthefollowingletterfromhiscurrentgirlfriend.“DearJohn,Ihopeyouarenotstillangry.IwanttoexplainthatIwasreallyjokingwhenItoldyouIdidn’tmeanwhatIsaidaboutreconsideringmydecisionnottochangemymind.PleasebelieveIreallymeanthislove,Grice.Confusingasthiscomplicated“DearJohn”letteris,it’sreallyfunnybecauseofitsobscurity.ViolationoftheSecondMaximofMannerToachievetheeffectofhumor,theusuallyusedtechniqueofviolatingthemaximofmanneristhetechniqueofviolatingthemaximofavoidingambiguity.Itisalsothemostfrequentlyusedoneofthefourtechniquesdiscussedinthispaper.Thefollowingjokesviolatethesecondmaximofmanner.Mr.Johns:Whycan’tIparkhere?Policeman:Readthesign.Mr.Johns:Idid.itsays,“Fineforparking.”SoIparked.Nicky:Whydon’tyoutakethebushome?Zoe:Mymotherwon’tletmekeepitinthehouse.Inthefirstconversation,thesign“FineforparkingQmeanssomeonewillhavetopayanamountofmoneyasapunishmentifheparksthere,yetMr.Jonesthinksitmeans“Goodforparking.QThewordfineismadeambiguousinthisjoke,thusviolatingthemaximofmanneranachievingtheeffectofhumor.Inthesecondconversation,ZoesresponseviolatesthemaximofmannerbymakingNickysquestionambiguous.NickymeansWhydontyougohomebybus?,whileZoethinksshemeansWhydontyoutalkievehicleintoyourhouse?Naturally,Zoesanswermakestheconversationafunnyjoke.ViolationoftheThirdMaximofMannerThethirdmaximofMannerisbebrief,andtherearealsomanyhumorousexamplesachievedbyviolationthethirdmaximofManner.MissGreenproducedaseriesofsoundsthatcorrespondedtolooselywiththescoreof“Home,SweetHome”Landlord:“Inaword,whenareyougoingtopayyourarrears?”Hard-upauthor:“IwillsatisfyyourdemandsassoonasIreceivethemoneywhichthepublisherwillpaymeifheacceptsthenovelIamgoingtosendhimassoonastheworkisfinishedwhichIabouttocommencewhenIhavefoundasuitablesubjectandnecessaryinspiration.Inexample(1),theauthorsaidthatMissGreenproducedaseriesofsoundsthatratherthanusingasimplewordsingingtoexpressthatMissGreensangbad.Inexample(2),thelandlordaskedthehard-upauthorforpayingforhisarrears,buthecouldnotaffordforit.Hepromisedthelandlordthathewouldpayforarrearswiththemoneyhereceivedwhenhisworkisfinished,evenifhehaventfindasuitablesubjectandnecessaryinspiration.AlthoughheviolatedthethirdandfourthmaximofMannerduetotheprolixityandlackoforder,thisexactlyreflectedthehard-upauthorscomplicatedmood,soastowinsympathyfromthelandlordtoextendthedeadlineafewdays.Obviously,theauthorviolatethethirdmaximofManner,makingtheconversationajoke.ViolationoftheFourthMaximofMannerGricedidnotgiveanyexampleofdisorder,whichisunderstandableinthatgenerallyadisorderedutterancewillnotconveyanythingbutthefactthatthespeakerismentallyunsound.Tosomeextend,itsverycommonthattheeffectofhumorisachievedbyspeakingnotorderlyinourdailycommunication.SoIjustgiveoneexampletoillustratetheviolationofthefourthmaximofmannerandhumoranditseasytounderstand.Herfilesofpinsextendtheirshiningrows;puffs;powders;patches;bibles;trifles;billet-doux.Inthisexample,theauthorbracketedshiningrows,puffs,powders,patches,triflesandbiblestogetherdeliberatelytoshowthatthewomandidnotbelieveinGodandachievedtheeffectofhumorbyviolatingthemaximofmanner.III.ConclusionGiventhepreviouslydemonstratedpoints,itcanbesafelyconcludedthatinmanyEnglishjokes,thehumorouseffectisachievedbytheviolationofthemaximsofthecooperativeprinciple.InordertobetterunderstandculturesofEnglishcountriesandfacilitiessuccessfulcommunication,aswellastobetterunderstandhumoreffectachievedbyviolationoffourmaims,reducethelevelofmisunderstandings,itsincrediblyimportanttoenhancetheinsightsintopragmatics,andapplythetheoryofconversationalimplicatureintopractice,buildaconnectionbetweenviolationofcooperativeprincipleandhumor.[References]HuZhuanglin.LinguisticsACourseBook,ThirdEdition.Beijing:PekingUniversityPress,2006.JiangWangqi.Pragmatics:TheoriesandApplications.Beijing:PekingUniversityPress,2000[4]XiaoLin.EnglishJokesandRiddles.Shanghai:WorldPublishingCorporation,1997.金立:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD，北京：DDDDDDDDD,2005冉永平：《语凹:DDDDDD，北京:DDDDDD社,2006