Study On The Pragmatic Functions Of Verbal Humor In Sino-US Key Figure's Foreign Affairs

With the rapid development of Chinese economy as well as its total national strength, China exerts a profound influence in the times of economic globalization. In order to play a proper role in international affairs, it becomes increasingly important for China to deal with the relationship with other nations, especially the United States. This thesis studies and explores the effects of verbal humor in protecting motherland's interests as well as saving self and other's face based on politeness principle in the special context of Sino-US key figures' diplomatic occasions by adopting intercultural communication theories and a large number of fresh examples.Politeness theory is one of the most important theories in the studies of intercultural communication and pragmatics, and face theory is a key element in politeness. Scholars have done plenty researches on it. Brown and Levinson proposed politeness theory. Leech put forward the significant and influential Politeness Principle. Brown and Levinson's Face-saving Theory and Ting-Toomey's Face-negotiation Theory are all meaningful for the further development of Politeness Principle. In addition, Chinese professor Gu Yueguo studied mianzi theory, and proposed a politeness principle with Chinese characteristics from the perspective of traditional Chinese culture. Xu Shenghuan supplemented this theory by considering the third party. After studying and analyzing these theoretical foundations, the writer proposes a new conception of Politeness Principle by taking into account the relationship between context and politeness.Humor is a common artistic style with distinct cultural characteristics. It reflects human civilization and wisdom through jocular or ironic linguistic form, which makes people feel delighted and enlightened. Humor is an essence component of language. In addition, the study on humor has become an independent subject. In consideration of the close connection between language and culture, humor is a special carrier of culture. For this reason, the ingredient, which remains under the surface of Chinese and English verbal humor, is a special cultural character with unique connotation.Therefore, how to understand Chinese and English humor better could have significant effects on achieving intercultural communication, especially on foreign affairs. However, so far scholars have paid more attention to humorous phenomena mainly focusing on humorous language of literary works, films and television programs. There is still no systematic research on humor in our nation at present. Liu Naishi and Xiong Xueliang have researched on humor functions of saving the face of participants involved in the human interaction from pragmatic perspective. But the social functions of verbal humor should be associated with contextual factors of interlocutors' status, and communicative situations. This thesis begins from the perspective of intercultural communication. Chapter 1 is a brief introduction to this thesis, which talks about the background and possible significance. Chapter 2 is a literature review of the major theoretical foundations, includes Western and Chinese scholars' researches about politeness and face theory. And in this chapter, the writer, considering cultural and contextual factors, proposes her personal opinions towards politeness theory. Chapter 3 is a review of the studies on humor both at home and abroad. After comparing the similarities and differences systemically between Chinese and English humor, the writer finds the deep reason that causes these diversities. Chapter 4 is an analysis of the pragmatic functions of verbal humor in Sino-US key leaders'foreign affairs by quoting living examples to analyze the usage of humor and its practical pragmatic functions of creating amicable atmosphere, lessening communicative pressure, breaking the ice in negotiation, criticizing opponents ingeniously and refuting unjustifiable questions in the special contexts. Chapter 5 is the conclusion of the whole thesis. This thesis summarizes politeness theory from cultural contextual perspective based on the pervious studies, and points out that verbal humor with its significant effects can be introduced into rapport, business negotiation, and intercultural communication.