Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies ›› 2014, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (05): 20-23.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2014.05.005

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A Frame Semantics Approach to the Mechanism of Conversational Humor

SHAN Xinrong, XIAO Kunxue   

  • Online:2014-05-28 Published:2020-07-25

Abstract: As a common linguistic phenomenon in human being’s social life, humor is characteristic of internal solemnity and external banter. With respect to form of representation, humor falls into two categories: linguistic humor and nonlinguistic humor. This paper is designed to explore the mechanism of realizing humorous effect in conversations from the perspective of frame semantics. It is held that humorous effect in conversations results from the fact that a particular word used by both parties is related to two different frames, i.e. frame shit, leading to two meanings that clash semantically and logically in the same context. The study is of help for comprehending the humor in conversations and for achieving humor when necessary in communication.

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