Abstract

Stylistics is one of the branches of linguistics; it can study the connections between context and actual situation. Also, stylistics can analyze influences situation background on context through some theories and methods.

This paper is a study on the linguistic features of the sitcom Friends from the view of stylistics.

From analyzing the stylistic level of sitcom, this paper learns that sometimes the violation of Cooperative Principle and Speech Act Theory can create humorous effect. Also, stylistics includes graphological, lexical and syntactic level. Analyzing from these aspects, this paper can find many interesting details in Friends. However, stylistics hasn’t been paid much attention. Thus, this paper hopes that it can make people know of the basic stylistic knowledge, and also improve their appreciation of sitcoms atliterary level. In addition, this paper really hopes that with the analysis of vocabulary, sentences, grammar of stylistics, screenwriters can create more fine works and shape more vivid characters by applying stylistics knowledge.

Key words: Friends, stylistics, linguistic features

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

I. Introduction-1

II. The Basic Theories on Stylistics-2

2.1 Style & Stylistics-2

2.1.1 Style-2

2.1.2 Stylistics-3

2.2 Dramatic Stylistics-4

III.Theoretical Discussion-5

3.1 Speech Act Theory-5

3.2 Cooperative Principles-6

IV. A brief introduction to Sitcom and Friends-6

4.1 Sitcom-6

4.2 An overview of Friends-7

V. Analysis from theories of stylistics-7

5.1 Revelation to Speech Act Theory-7

5.2 Violation of Cooperative Principles-9

VI. Linguistic Description of the sitcom Friends-10

6.1 The Graphological level-10

6.1.1 Uniqueness of Spelling-10

6.1.2 The frequent use of commas-11

6.2 Phonological Level-12

6.2.1 The fast tempo-12

6.2.2 Frequent Use of Initial Stress-12

6.3 Lexical Level-13

6.3.1 Informal and Slang Words-13

6.3.2 Concrete Words-14

6.4 Syntactic Level-16

6.4.1 Simple Sentence-16

6.4.2 Passive Voice-16

VII. Conclusion-17

References-19