摘要

本研究运用关联理论，对《名利场》中反讽进行了语用分析，尝试揭示反讽在《名利场》中的语用目的。论文中的案例分析从语用学的视角，分析得出《名利场》中三种主要的反讽类型：言语讽刺，戏剧性讽刺和情节性讽刺。本文通过研究，表明了关联理论和反讽与言语交流、语境、认知这些因素紧密相关。而且对每一种反讽的解释和理解可以结合这些因素来达到一个更满意的结论。

关键词：反讽，关联理论，语境，语用目的

Abstract

Based on relevance theory, this thesis offers a study of pragmatic analysis of irony in Vanity Fair to reveal the pragmatic objectives. Case-study in this thesis explores the three main types of irony identified in Vanity Fair: verbal irony, dramatic irony and situational irony. It is clear that relevance theory and irony are closely connected with verbal communication, context and cognition, which can be combined to arrive at a more satisfactory conclusion when interpreting and understanding each type of irony.

Key words: irony, relevance theory, context, pragmatic objective

1.    Introduction
Irony is commonly used as a rhetorical device in literature works. “Literature is characterized by its potential for irony, its capacity to mean something other than a common-sense or everyday use of language”. Irony is regarded as an indispensable rhetorical technique in deeply and effectively reflecting the main theme and the real subjective of the author of a poem, a drama or a novel. It becomes an essential element in constructing the inner value of a novel.
Vanity Fair is one of the most outstanding representatives of ironic novel in the 19th century. “Ever since the publication of the first installments in 1847, critics have united around the view that Thackeray’s Vanity Fair is first and foremost a comic satire on Victorian materialism”. Satire in Vanity Fair is a successful and significant technique, which has been studied by many people mainly from literary and linguistic perspectives. This thesis explores irony, which is an important satirical technique, from a pragmatic perspective.