从关联理论看幽默的“出其不意”

Surprise Effect of Humor Based on Relevance Theory

幽默的妙处在于出其不意。结合关联理论和相关语境理论,试从认知角度来探讨这一幽默效应的认知本质及理解过程。幽默效应的产生源于话语运用与语境不协调,说话人明示与听话人推理不一致以及最大关联与最佳关联存在矛盾等。幽默理解的关键在于择定符合最佳关联的认知语境。

The core of humor lies in its surprise effect. With reference to relevance theory and cognitive context, this paper analyzes the cognitive essence of humor and its inference process as well. It argues that humor results from the contradiction between language use and its context; between speaker＇s ostensiveness and heater＇s inference; and last but not least, it results from the contrast between the maximal relevance and the optimal relevance. The key to understanding humor is to choose a cognitive context that is of optimal relevance.