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" A discourse analysis approach to the social functions of humour, with reference to the political panel discussion programme, Question Time "
Roberts, Claire Louise
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Latin Dissertation
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| Record Number
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1097878
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TLets524744
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| Main Entry
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Roberts, Claire Louise
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| Title & Author
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A discourse analysis approach to the social functions of humour, with reference to the political panel discussion programme, Question Time\ Roberts, Claire Louise
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| College
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Lancaster University
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| Date
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2008
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| student score
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2008
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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| Abstract
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Humour has often been overlooked as a serious subject of study, but humour studies is agrowing area of multidisciplinary research, of which one contributing discipline islinguistics. Much of the focus to date has been on identifying the mechanisms that triggerhumour in self-contained joke texts. This thesis is part of a growing shift in focus towardsstudying (a) spontaneous, situational humour analysed in context, and (b) function ratherthan form.The literature on the social functions of humour is reviewed, and a new model proposedas an analytical framework. The model features five main functions of humour, whichrelate, respectively, to (i) amusement, (ii) social relations, (iii) self-presentation, (iv)representation and (v) the managing of the on-going action. Whereas the first fourfunctions are largely drawn from the literature (albeit in a modified form), the latterfunction has been inadequately investigated to date, and its inclusion in the model isinformed by the analysis.The data is taken from Question Time, a BBC political panel discussion programme, anda theoretical framework specific to the data is drawn from media studies and research onmediatised politics. Instances of linguistic humour are identified and analysed utilising arange of analytical concepts from various different areas of linguistics, such as discourseanalysis, pragmatics, Politeness Theory and Conversation Analysis. The model is appliedto the data, and consideration is given to how each of the five functions are manifest inthis specific genre.Conclusions are drawn as to the nature of humour in Question Time, and related to themesdrawn from the theoretical framework, including the role of humour in staged debate, theuse of humour by politicians for the purposes of self-presentation, and the role ofentertainment in mediatised politics.Two recurring themes throughout the thesis are the multi functionality of humorousutterances, and the importance of situating humour in all levels of context.
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Lancaster University
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