| The study on metaphor enjoys a long history. There have been numerous studies ever since the Aristotle time when Aristotle proposed the first systematic theory of metaphor. From comparison theory, interaction theory to the conceptual metaphor theory which was proposed from the perspective of cognitive science, various theories were came up with by scholars at home and abroad. Some scholars made attempts to combine the study of metaphor with studies in other fields. However, little attention was laid on the combination of metaphor with language humor, which as linguists ever studied, can be caused by different strategies, and even less on methods of formulating humorous metaphors. The metaphor, as a special device in language and a way people thin, can surely help to formulate the metaphor with humor. Therefore, it is worthwhile to have a discussion on this subject.This paper, based on the traditional and modern theories of humor and metaphors, discusses particular strategies of formulating humorous metaphors in certain contexts and for certain purposes. Besides, it also makes a discussion of how to realize the humorous effects of metaphors in particular social contexts.By analyzing the differences between humorous metaphors and conventional metaphors, the paper concludes some basic features of these amusing metaphors. Based on these features and further analysis of the cases from sitcoms of both English and Chinese, specific strategies of making humorous metaphor are proposed. These strategies can be applied in the different social contexts. Traditional theories like interaction theory and conceptual metaphor theory give a clear illustration of the mechanism and features of metaphors. Apart from these, humorous metaphors should have the features of humorous languages. The Incongruity theory, Semantic Script Theory of Humor, and General Theory of Verbal Humor together make a significant illustration of the formulation and comprehension of humorous languages.This paper concludes several strategies based on the collection and analysis of cases from forty episodes of two hilarious sitcoms in China and in Britain. In the semantic filed, the metaphor inventor can create humor in metaphors with absurd image by exaggeration of vehicle or source domain, or by sharp turn in the meaning to dismiss the receiver’s expectation or by using some words that do not belong to certain register variety. From the perspective of phonetics, the metaphor creator may make use of homophones (phonetic metaphors) to create the sense of humor. Pragmatically, the creator can use metaphors to indirectly tease or jokingly assault someone, which may be humorous to another person.Research of strategies of creating humorous metaphors is theoretically meaningful to the study of both humor and metaphor. By analyzing the humorous cases, we can have a deep observation of the process of formulation and comprehension of the metaphors. In addition, this study helps to have a better knowledge of the similarities of the mechanism of metaphors and humorous language. Besides, as a way to understand some unfamiliar subjects by adopting familiar subjects, metaphors with some senses of humor can promote this cognitive process. Thus this study is meaningful in terms of cognition. Last but not least, people in daily conversations may create metaphors simply for fun. To some degree, the study is also pragmatically meaningful to those who want to make jokes with this device. |
