Abstract: Humor is a common and pervasive phenomenon. In social communication, the proper employment of humor can improve interpersonal relationships, lift the mood or atmosphere,

and avoid embarrassment and conflict. Humor in TV series is an essential part of situation comedy, which reflects the culture, way of thinking and customs of different countries. The Big Bang Theory is a very popular American sitcom currently, especially among young people. This thesis attempts to analyze the use of verbal humor found in the popular American sitcom from the following aspects: humors in science and technology, by different cultural backgrounds, by rhetorical usages and by the violation of Cooperative Principle with a hope that this study can contribute to the audiences’ better understanding and appreciation of verbal humor .

Key words: The Big Bang Theory; verbal humor; sitcom.

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction..1

2. Literature Review 1

2.1 Verbal Humor

2.2 Development of Humor in Sitcom

2.3 Previous Study of Humor 

3. Analysis of Humor in The Big Bang Theory..3

3.1 Humor in Science and Technology

3.2 Humor in Different Cultural Backgrounds

3.3 Humor in Rhetorical Usages

3.4 Humor in Violation of Cooperative Principle

4. Conclusion..8

Bibliography..9

Acknowledgements..10