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The Engagement to Humor in Friends — An Appraisal Approach

The Engagement to Humor in Friends — An Appraisal Approach. ZHAO Ling, Zhao Xueai Foreign Languages Department of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi ’ an. Content. Introduction Engagement in Appraisal Systems The Analysis of Humorous Language in Friends Conclusion.

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The Engagement to Humor in Friends — An Appraisal Approach

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  1. The Engagement to Humor in Friends —An Appraisal Approach ZHAO Ling, Zhao Xueai Foreign Languages Department of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an

  2. Content • Introduction • Engagement in Appraisal Systems • The Analysis of Humorous Language in Friends • Conclusion

  3. Introduction • James R. Martin (2000) and Peter R. White (2001) propose the framework of Appraisal Systems. • Appraisal Systems :All kinds of attitudes on events from the perspective of language; Engagement, attitude and graduation model the Appraisal Systems.

  4. Engagement in Appraisal Systems • Engagement Negotiated ways of interpersonal meaning in language. “Three voices” Wang zhenhua proposes some more abstract and likely more operational terms: the first voice, the second voice, and the third voice in engagement system.

  5. Language user abides the principle of engagement through three voices, which can be seen from the following chart: The first voice I think…; I take it…; I say… Questions/Answers “I- ” propositions/Proposals Engagement The second voice In/direct sourcible quotes The third voice Sourceless quotes Realization of Engagement（ refers to the ways to realize）

  6. Prefacing and Hedging—two forms to realize three voices in language • Prefacing consists of conditionals and concessions; • Hedging consists of some modal verbs.

  7. The first voice The second voice The third voice Conditionals Prefacing Concessions Modal verbs Hedging ……

  8. The Analysis of Humorous Language in Friends Humor in three bases of engagement • Language is the locus of purpose, therefore, whenever a speaker engages, he is doomed to realize his purpose. And his purpose is realized with the help of emotion, context, and discourse potential.

  9. Expressions about emotion in language: Cursing, complaining, praising and ordering so on and so forth. • In the process of communication, language user, consciously or subconsciously，deals with information before he/she reacts, which decides the way he/she engages.

  10. ①Ross: Phoebe, you said it was urgent! Phoebe: Oh yeah it is! I’m going to the movies and it starts in like five minutes. Ross: Do you realize I have a classroom full of students! Phoebe: (To the students) Oh, I’m sorry. Does anyone want to come to the movie?

  11. In context, speaker/writer and hearer/reader hold differently in the speech acts and emotion, then misunderstand the real situation, causing the distance in the process of communication, making the other parts’ deeds so ridiculous and absurd.

  12. Language users’ adjustment to utterance is to some extent decided by the context they are involved to. Sometimes, context may arouse or eliminate language ambiguity, which is considered to be the fundamental basis of the humorous language.

  13. Speakers’ choice of utterance reflects his/her relationships with the hearers. Speaker/writer and hearer/reader intentionally use the vague meaning of context and language, and implicated meaning is expressed between the lines, so communicative meaning is received, humorous effects are achieved.

  14. ②Ross: Look, would you guys grow up? That is the most natural beautiful thing in the world. Joey: Yeah, we know, but there’ s a baby suckin’on it.

  15. Discourse potential is the semantic basis of engagement (Wang zhenhua, 2003) • Language is purposely expressed, whenever utterance starts, language user intentionally means to realize its purpose. • where there is an utterance, there is engagement.

  16. Language Meaning Meaning Pragmatic Meaning Discourse potential Interpreted Meaning Situational Discourse Discourse Social Discourse Cultural Discourse

  17. ③Chandler: What is the matter with you?!? Joey: What? Chandler: You’re arranging flowers! (Pointing at the dish on the table) You got dead flowers!You got a picture, a picture, of a baby dressed like flowers! This is not Joey!

  18. Language Projection—Humorous Language in “Three Voices” • Projection is the relation between the speaker and what is said. • Realization of purpose is projection of idea. • The main manifestation of the three voices is hedging and prefacing.

  19. Humor in Prefacing • When a language user engages, he usually prefaces what is going to say/write.

  20. Conditional—expresses the uncertainty and ambiguity of utterance. • The speaker does not hope what is stated in the conditional happens. If it happens, he hopes that it is the last thing. For example:

  21. ④Mrs. Green: So, what do you think of my daughter in the apron with the big job? If she didn’t pour the coffee, no one would have anything to drink. Chandler: Believe me, sometimes that happens.

  22. Concession—reflects the “counter-expectation” between speaker and hearer. • In the course of engagement, language user intends to use concession to praise, scold, and express his/her ideas. E.g.,

  23. ⑤Chandler is interviewing a potential roommate. Chandler: Soo, ah, Eric, what kind of photography do you do? Eric: Oh, mostly, fashion, so there may be models here from time to time, I hope that cool. Chandler: Yes, that is cool. Because I have models here y’know……never. Eric: Oh, yeah, during the summer, I spend most weekends at my sister’s beach house,which you are welcome to use by the way. Although, I should probably tell you, she is a porn star, (Chandler breaks his pencil in half) Chandler: Well, listen I ah, still have one more person to ah meet, but unless it turns out to be your sister, I think your chances are pretty good. (Eric offers to shake hands) All right. (Chandler hugs him.)

  24. As it is put forward, concession means “counter- expectation”, via concession, hearer’s expectation is totally different from the real situation, which finally arouse humorous effects.

  25. Humor in Hedging • Perform the degree of certainty of language user. • In certain discourse, speaker and hearer adopt the pragmatic factors consciously or subconsciously, in which ambiguous effects are expressed, and then show the other part the subaudition, from which humorous effects are produced.

  26. Modality—the scope of meaning between yes and no. • The most efficient way to be seemed more subjective

  27. ⑥Tag: Mrs. Green would like to establish some ground rules before she comes out. She would appreciate it if you don’t use the words “old” or “downhill” or (To Joey) “they still look pretty damn good”.

  28. Conclusion • In the process of engagement, emotion, context, and discourse potential are the factors triggering humorous effects. • By the projection of the ideas, usage of condition, concession and model words, the uncertainty of speaker and the vague meaning is expressed, in this case, consciously or unconsciously, the humorous effects are achieved.

  29. There exists typical American humor in friends, so, the analysis to humor from engagement framework greatly deepens people’s understanding of American culture, which in turn, smoothes the cross-cultural communication and gives guideline to English reading and teaching.

  30. Thank you! Questions are welcome!

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