Abstract:Humor is not only an art of speaking but also a common language phenomenon. It plays an indispensable role in people’s daily conversation. However, due to the differences of the culture, people always have difficulties understanding the humor of other nations. Sperber and Wilson proposed the relevance theory in 1986, holding the idea that the communication can be made smoothly is because there is a optimal cognitive model. Thus the relevance theory has a strong explanatory power for humor translation. On the basis of the present studies, this thesis takes The IT crowd for an example and aims to further prove the explanatory power and guidance of the relevance theory for translation works especially for humor translation works. The author hopes that this thesis can broaden the vision for studies of humor translation and promote the development of cross-cultural communication.

Key words: relevance theory   humor translation  The IT crowd

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-1

1.3 The IT Crowd-2

1.4 Thesis Structure-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 Relevance Theory-3

2.2 Previous Studies on Humor Translation in Sitcoms-3

2.2.1 From the Perspective of Skopostherie-3

2.2.2 From the Perspective of Cooperative Principle-4

2.2.3 From the Perspective of Equivalent Theory-4

Chapter Three Relevance Theory and the Translation of Verbal Humor in The IT Crowd-6

3.1 Relevance Theory and Verbal Humor Translation in The IT Crowd-6

3.2 Strategies of Verbal Humor Translation in The IT Crowd Based on Relevance Theory-6

3.2.1 Direct Translation in The IT Crowd-6

3.2.2 Indirect Translation in The IT Crowd-8

3.2.2.1 Paraphrase-8

3.2.2.2 Amplification-9

3.2.2.3 Replacement-9

3.2.2.4 Re-creation-10

Chapter Four Conclusion-12

4.1 Major Findings-12

4.2 Limitations-12

References-13