| Acknowledgements | 第1-4页 |
| Abstract | 第4-6页 |
| Contents | 第6-8页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第8-10页 |
| ·Aim of the study | 第8页 |
| ·Pragmatic Theories as an Analytical Framework | 第8-9页 |
| ·General Organization of the Thesis | 第9-10页 |
| Chapter 2 Humor: A Critical Literature Review | 第10-22页 |
| ·Definitions | 第10-12页 |
| ·Functions of Humor | 第12-13页 |
| ·Classification of Humor | 第13-15页 |
| ·Theories: A Critical Review | 第15-22页 |
| ·Superiority Theory | 第15-16页 |
| ·Release Theory | 第16-17页 |
| ·Incongruity Theory | 第17-22页 |
| Chapter 3 Incongruity and Sitcom | 第22-28页 |
| ·Definitions of Sitcom | 第22-23页 |
| ·Six Elements in Making a Sitcom | 第23-24页 |
| ·Pragmatic theories and humor in Chinese sitcoms | 第24-28页 |
| ·Data for Analysis | 第25-26页 |
| ·Synopsis of the Two Sitcoms | 第26-28页 |
| Chapter 4 Humor and the Violation of Co-operative Principle | 第28-42页 |
| ·Conversational Implicature | 第28页 |
| ·Grice's Cooperative Principle | 第28-29页 |
| ·The Four Conversational Maxims | 第29-30页 |
| ·Flouting of the Maxims | 第30-31页 |
| ·Flouts Exploiting the Maxim of Quality | 第30页 |
| ·Flouts Exploiting the Maxim of Quantity | 第30-31页 |
| ·Flouts Exploiting the Maxim of Relation | 第31页 |
| ·Flouts Exploiting the Maxim of Manner | 第31页 |
| ·Case Study One | 第31-37页 |
| ·Case Study Two | 第37-40页 |
| ·Summary | 第40-42页 |
| Chapter 5 Humor and the Relevance Theory | 第42-53页 |
| ·The Limitations of CP | 第42-43页 |
| ·Relevance Theory (RT) | 第43-48页 |
| ·A Critical Review | 第43-48页 |
| ·The Code Model and the Inferential Model | 第43-45页 |
| ·Ostensive-inferential Communication | 第45-46页 |
| ·Contextual Effects and Processing Effort | 第46-47页 |
| ·Definition of Relevance | 第47页 |
| ·Principles of Relevance | 第47-48页 |
| ·Humor in Perspective of RT | 第48-52页 |
| ·Flouting of the Maxims and Optimal Relevance | 第48-49页 |
| ·The Interpretation of Humor within the Cognitive Environment | 第49-52页 |
| ·Summary | 第52-53页 |
| Chapter 6 Politeness Theory and Humor | 第53-66页 |
| ·Leech's Politeness Principle (PP) | 第53-54页 |
| ·Humor and the Violation of PP | 第54-57页 |
| ·Violation of Modesty Maxim through Hyperbole | 第56-57页 |
| ·Violation of Approbation Maxim | 第57页 |
| ·Brown and Levinson's Politeness Theory | 第57-64页 |
| ·The Concept of Face | 第57-58页 |
| ·Super Strategies for Performing the FTA | 第58页 |
| ·Humor and Off-record Politeness | 第58-62页 |
| ·Use of Hints | 第59页 |
| ·Use of Association Clues | 第59-61页 |
| ·Being Incomplete and Using Ellipsis | 第61-62页 |
| ·Humor and Deliberate FTA | 第62-64页 |
| ·Summary | 第64-66页 |
| Chapter 7 Conclusions and Implications | 第66-68页 |
| ·A Summary of Major Findings | 第66-67页 |
| ·Areas for Further Research | 第67-68页 |
| References | 第68-70页 |
