| Acknowledgements | 第4-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-10页 |
| Introduction | 第10-12页 |
| Chapter One Literature Review | 第12-22页 |
| 1.1 Definition and Classification of Humor | 第12-14页 |
| 1.2 Three Conventional Humor Theories | 第14-16页 |
| 1.3 Modern Linguistic Studies of Humor | 第16-18页 |
| 1.3.1 The Semantic Script Theory of Humor | 第16-17页 |
| 1.3.2 The General Theory of Verbal Humor | 第17页 |
| 1.3.3 Pragmatic Studies of Humor | 第17-18页 |
| 1.4 Rhetoric and Humor | 第18-22页 |
| 1.4.1 Classification of English Rhetorical Devices | 第18-19页 |
| 1.4.2 Rhetoric Study of Humor | 第19-22页 |
| Chapter Two The Theoretical Framework | 第22-30页 |
| 2.1 The Cooperative Principle | 第22-25页 |
| 2.1.1 Four maxims of the Cooperative Principle | 第22-23页 |
| 2.1.2 The Flouting of the Cooperative Principle | 第23-25页 |
| 2.2 Relevance Theory | 第25-30页 |
| 2.2.1 Relevance and The Principles of Relevance | 第26-28页 |
| 2.2.2 Ostensive-Inferential Communication | 第28-29页 |
| 2.2.3 Dynamic Context | 第29-30页 |
| Chapter Three Research Methodology | 第30-34页 |
| 3.1 Introduction of the Sitcom | 第30-31页 |
| 3.2 Data Collection | 第31-32页 |
| 3.3 Research Procedure | 第32-34页 |
| Chapter Four Case and Analysis | 第34-66页 |
| 4.1 Analysis of Humor Effect from the Perspective of CP in The Big Bang Theory | 第35-51页 |
| 4.1.1 Flouting of the Maxim of Quantity | 第36-39页 |
| 4.1.2 Flouting of the Maxim of Quality | 第39-47页 |
| 4.1.3 Flouting of the Maxim of Relation | 第47-48页 |
| 4.1.4 Flouting of the Maxim of Manner | 第48-51页 |
| 4.2 Analysis of Humor Effect from the Perspective of Relevance Theory | 第51-63页 |
| 4.2.1 Humor Generation Mechanism by Ostensive-Inferential Communication | 第52-53页 |
| 4.2.2 Humor Generation Mechanism under Cognitive Environment and Contextual Hypothesis | 第53-55页 |
| 4.2.3 Analysis of Humor Effect of Rhetoric Devices in The Big Bang Theory | 第55-63页 |
| 4.3 Comparison of CP and RT on Humor Interpretation | 第63-66页 |
| Conclusion | 第66-68页 |
| Bibliography | 第68-71页 |
