Premium
Semantics and Pragmatics of Humor
Author(s) -
Attardo Salvatore
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
language and linguistics compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.619
H-Index - 44
ISSN - 1749-818X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-818x.2008.00107.x
Subject(s) - pragmatics , linguistics , humor research , competence (human resources) , psychology , cooperative principle , epistemology , philosophy , grice , social psychology
This article presents the state of the art of semantic‐pragmatic research on humor. The developments in the field are seen as fanning out from two central concepts: the linguistic version of the incongruity/resolution theory of humor (script opposition) and the methodological claim that such a theory was a theory of humor competence. The developments of the theory of humor competence and, more recently, of work on humor performance are seen as lying at the opposite ends of a continuum, with various approaches positioning themselves along that axis. It is argued that a theory encompassing both competence and performance is necessary for the study of humor.