Abstract:Two Broke Girls, as a famous US situation comedy, is very popular in China. This situation comedy applies the Politeness Principle a lot and PP lays foundation for conversational implication for the utterances of heroes and heroines in the Two Broke Girls. The essay studies the origin of PP and its domestic and oversea development. At the same time, this paper focuses on the violating of PP to research the humorous effect of its dialogue caused by violating PP. By combining the dialogue with analysis, the author tries to figure out the violation of each of the six basic maxims separately and give out the humorous effect caused by the violation. At last here is the conclusion that violation of PP will promote communication and create harmonious conversation environment in some special conditions.

Key words: Verbal humor; Violation; Politeness Principle; Humorous effect

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Theoretical Framework and Literature Review..2

2.1 Overview of Verbal Humor

2.2 Overview of Politeness Principle

2.2.1 Brief Introduction of Politeness Principle

2.2 .2 Violation of Politeness Principle

2.2.3 Domestic Study and Aboard

3. Verbal Humor Produced by Violating Politeness Principle5

3.1 Humor by Violating Tact Maxim

3.2 Humor by Violating Generosity Maxim

3.3 Humor by Violating Approbation Maxim

3.4 Humor by Violating Modesty Maxim

3.5 Humor by Violating Agreement Maxim

3.6 Humor by Violating Sympathy Maxim

4. Humorous Effect by Violating Politeness Principle...8

4.1 Promoting Negotiation and Cooperation

4.2 Promoting Better Understanding of Culture

5. Conclusion....10

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgements..12