A Study of Humor in Tan Talks Traffic Based on the Cooperative Principle

This study adopts the Cooperative Principle as the theoretical framework and examines Tan Talks Traffic, a popular local Chinese traffic-education program, to explore the mechanisms of verbal humor. By analyzing selected conversational excerpts, the study finds that humorous effects in the program are primarily achieved through deliberate violations of the four maxims of the Cooperative Principle. These pragmatic deviations not only enhance the program’s entertainment value but also improve the effectiveness of traffic-safety education by creating a relaxed and engaging communicative atmosphere.