Abstract:In social interaction, Cooperative Principle and Politeness Principle play an important role in enhancing the interpersonal relationship and communication. Film, as one of the most remarkable forms of art, has widely transmitted its information with sound and images, and film dialogue is one of the most important means to get its information accepted by the audience. The Pursuit of Happiness is an American film which tells a classical, inspirational and optimistic story about a father and a son and has caused widespread concern. This study adopts Cooperative Principle and Politeness Principle as its theoretical framework to study the particular discourses in the film The Pursuit of Happiness with an aim to probe the implied meanings of dramatic dialogues among the main characters while exploring the subtle change of conversational features, the characters’ moral orientation and their fate in the particular social background. The thesis also provides a new perspective for people to appreciate the film and helps people improve their skills of social intercourse more effectively.

Key words: Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle, The Pursuit of Happiness

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Literature Review.2

2.1 Introduction to the Film The Pursuit of Happiness

2.2 Researches on the Film The Pursuit of Happiness 

3. Theoretical Framework3

  3.1 Grice’s Cooperative Principle

3.2 Leech’s Politeness Principle

3.3 Limitations of the Previous Studies

4. A Study of Pragmatic Principles in The Pursuit of Happiness Dialogues.4

4.1 Violation of the Cooperative Principle

4.1.1 Violation of the Maxim of Quantity 

4.1.2 Violation of the Maxim of Quality

4.1.3 Violation of the Maxim of Relation 

4.1.4 Violation of the Maxim of Manner

4.2 Adherence to Politeness Principle9

 4.2.1 Adherence to Tact Maxim

4.2.2 Adherence to Generosity Maxim

    4.2.3 Adherence to Approbation Maxim

    4.2.4 Adherence to Modesty Maxim

    4.2.5 Adherence to Agreement Maxim

4.2.6 Adherence to Sympathy Maxim

5. Conclusion13

Biography15

Acknowledgements.16