THE PRAGMATIC ROLE OF UNDERSTANDING HUMOR IN ENGLISH DISCOURSE
Keywords:
Humor, pragmatics, English discourse, pragmatic competence, irony, sarcasm, puns, satire, context, cultural awareness, communication, language learning, discourse analysis, cross-cultural communicationAbstract
This study explores the pragmatic significance of humor in English discourse, emphasizing its role as a powerful communicative tool that extends beyond mere entertainment. Humor is analyzed from a pragmatic perspective, focusing on how meaning is constructed, interpreted, and negotiated in various social and cultural contexts. The research highlights that understanding humor requires not only linguistic competence but also pragmatic awareness, including knowledge of context, shared assumptions, and cultural references. The paper examines different types of humor commonly found in English discourse, such as irony, sarcasm, puns, and satire, and explains how they function within conversations to achieve specific communicative goals. These goals may include establishing social relationships, reducing tension, expressing criticism indirectly, or reinforcing group identity. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that humor plays a crucial role in shaping meaning and interaction in English discourse. A deeper understanding of its pragmatic functions can significantly improve both language comprehension and interpersonal communication, particularly in cross-cultural settings.
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