An Analysis of Conversations between Genius and Layfolk in The Big Bang Theory from the Perspective of Adaptation

Abstract
The Big Bang Theory is a quite popular US TV series among college students. In particular, audiences are deeply impressed by those humorous lines. Based on adaptation theory, this paper intends to analyze the conversations among the characters in this TV series. Studies show that the changeable and different forms of language structure are adaptations to the contextual elements including mental world, physical world and social world and so on. Meanwhile, the communicators always express different salience degrees in the conversations.

Key words: adaptation theory, the big bang theory, contextual correlates of adaptability, structural objects of adaptability, salience
Contents
1.    Introduction-1
2.    Demonstration2
2.1    Adaptation theory2
2.1.1 Three core concepts-2
2.1.2 Four adaptive dimensionalities3
2.2 A brief introduction to The Big Bang Theory4
2.3 Contextual correlates of adaptability in conversations between genius and layfolk
2.3.1 Adaptation to physical world 4
2.3.2 Adaptation to mental world -6
2.4 Structural objects of adaptability in conversations between genius and layfolk
2.4.1 Adaptation in symbol system -8
2.4.2 Adaptation in code9
2.4.3 Adaptation in style-10
2.5 Salience of adaptation processes in conversations between genius and layfolk
2.5.1 Key concepts in terms of salience -11
2.5.2 Explication12
2.5.3 Implication13
3. Conclusion13
Work Cited-15
Bibliography-16