试析语用原则在英语文学作品中的运用

Application of Pragmatic Principles to the Interpretation of English Literary Works

语言作为意义的载体体现了语言使用者的交际意图,在语言交际中人们往往会有意识地选择所使用的措辞以达到其交际的目的。在这个过程中人们要么遵循会话原则,要么违反这些原则,无论作者或说话人做出什么选择,其最终目的都是为了达到其所期待的效果。文学作品虽然与日常的交际会话不同,其所表达的内涵也往往需借助语用原则尤其是会话原则理论才能得以充分的理解。本文试图通过分析英国作家毛姆的短篇小说《万事通先生》(Mr.Know-all)来说明语用原则对文学作品理解的作用。

Language as the carrier of meaning helps to convey the communicative intention of the language users. In the course of communication, people will deliberately choose wording in order to attain the communicative intention. In this process, people will either observe or deviate the conversational principles with the ultimate purpose of achieving the desired effects. Though literary works differ from the ordinary daily conversations, the implicature intended can only be figured out with the help of pragmatic principles. The author of this article attempts to illustrate the role of pragmatic principles in the interpretation of literary works through analysis of S Somerset Maugham's short story 'Mr. Know-All'.