apragmaticstudyofenglishpuns(编辑修改稿)

apragmaticstudyofenglishpuns(编辑修改稿)内容摘要：

an express double meanings with one word, phrase or the same sentence, so the concision is its biggest feature. For example: Hot weather, cool service. In this advertisement, “cool” has two meanings: one is “cold”, the other is “good, excellent”. The maker of the advertisement not only tells the consumers the service of its store, but also promises the quality of their service. It conveys rich meanings just with the four words. 2) Euphemistic and implicit The words used in puns always have the similar sound, or spelling but with different meanings. We can always get the implied meanings from the simple forms. 5 For example: Your argument is sound, nothing but sound. In this sentence, the word “sound” appears two times, but has different meanings. The first word “sound” is adjective which means “reasonable, convincing”. The other word “sound” means “a noise”. Here, the speaker expresses his criticism tactful. 3) Humorous and jocular Puns always make a humorous effect. For example: Q: Why did you disconnect the door bell? A: I want the nobell prize (Nobel Prize). The word “nobell prize” has the same sound like the word “Nobel Prize”, and this makes the answer a sense of humor. The rhetoric functions of puns The pun is always favorable to the readers, and it is being used for a long history. At present, pun is used widely in the humorous stories and so on. Its usage often makes the language quite vivid, lively, persuasive and interesting, and it can increase ironic and humorous effect. 1) English puns are vivid and persuasive. English pun is vivid and persuasive。 it can make the advertisements brief, meaningful, humorous, and leave deep impression on the customers. For example: Try our sweet corn. You‟ll smile from ear to ear. This is an advertisement of sweet corn. In this sentence, “ear” not only means “ear”, but also means “wheat”. So “ear to ear” can express one meaning “eat one after another corn”, on the other hand, we can understand it as “pleased ear to ear”. It describes people’s pleasant mood after eating corn vividly and try to persuade people to buy their products. 2) English puns can increase ironic effect. English pun also has the satiric effect。 it can deepen the personality of characters, and satirize the society. And it makes people think deeply after reading. 6 For example: On Sunday they pray for you and on Monday they prey on you. In this example, “prey” and “pray” sound alike but they have their own original meanings. According to the customs in the western countries, people often go to the church to make the pray on Sunday, while arrives Monday, these bureaucrats and the great capitals will bully the mon people instead. This sentence is full of satire, and exposes the veil of western social hypocrites. 3) English Puns are humorous, which can strengthen the language force. English pun is very popular in many types of writing. The most notable feature is its humorous and witty effect, and it can make the language more infectious. For example: Then there was the man in the restaurant. “You‟re not eating your fish,” the waitress said to him, “Anything wrong with it?” “Long time no sea.” the man replied. This is a widespread short story. Among them, “sea” and “see” have the same sound. The customer’s answer seems like to be “Long time no see”, just like the greeting of two Chinese friends with a long separation. It actually refers to “Long time no sea”, and plains the fish is not fresh for leaving the sea too long. Customer uses the homophone pun cleverly, not only says hello to the waitress, but also makes criticism of the restaurant’s food. Especially, he expresses his dissatisfaction. It’s very infectious. 4) Puns are quickwitted, which can make atmosphere easy. English pun is quickwitted, it can make atmosphere not so serious, and make people accept it easily. For example: Sixyearold Linda returned unimpressed from her school first day at school. Asked how she got on, she replied, “every morning, we all have to sit at our desks and when the teacher calls our names, we have to answer „prisoner‟!” Students have to reply “present” when teachers call their names in the class. However, the word “prisoner” sound like “present”. From this joking, we can feel the fact that 7 the students are full of discontentment and plain about the life in the school, it makes the readers laugh and makes the atmosphere is not so serious. The application of English puns 1) The use of puns in advertising Nowadays, advertising is an important part in human’s life, and its goal is to attract a customer’s attention to the product and induce them to buy it. In order to enhance the attraction of an advertisement, the choice of words or phrases bees more important. There are many rhetorical vehicles used in advertisement, and puns are particular favorable to it. Many panies use humorous effect to attract customers to buy their products easily. Thus, pun is very popular in advertisement. For example: Money does not grow on trees, but it blossoms at our BranchesLioyd Bank It is the advertisement of Lioyd Bank. “Branch” means “part of a tree growing out from the trunk”, but here it implies the division of bank. This advertisement encourages people to store their money in Lioyd Bank, and their money will be like the blooming flo。