Relevance in Sitcom Discourse: The Viewer’s Perspective Cover Image

Relevance in Sitcom Discourse: The Viewer’s Perspective
Relevance in Sitcom Discourse: The Viewer’s Perspective

Author(s): Magdalena Wieczorek
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Translation Studies
Published by: Instytut Anglistyki Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego

Summary/Abstract: The present paper draws upon Sperber and Wilson’s ([1986] 1995) Relevance Theory to undertake a pragmatic analysis of situation comedy (sitcom) discourse. More specifically, special attention is paid to the cognitive interpretative paths the viewer needs to take in order to find a dialogue or monologue humorous. The analysis is premised upon the participation framework, which accounts for the bi-partite division of communication in fictional discourse: the character’s (fictional) layer and the recipient’s layer, the latter being in the centre of attention.

  • Issue Year: 27/2018
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 127-142
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English