Abstract Nowadays, TED (technology, entertainment and design) speech is gaining great popularity。 No speech can compare with it in terms of the pioneering spirit。 The most innovative science and technology as well as thinking trends can all be traced on the stage of TED。

TED speech is a kind of public speech。 The speaker needs to use verbal and nonverbal symbols to convey his meaning or intention and achieve the desired effect。 Skillful speakers will adopt a variety of strategies to ensure that the speech will be a success。 Pragmatic presupposition is one of these strategies and a very effective one。87062

Therefore, this paper studies TED speeches from the perspective of pragmatic presupposition。 Through the analysis, the author intends to reveal the different kinds of pragmatic presupposition embedded in TED speeches and explore how they help to convey the speaker’s message to the audience。 Hopefully, this study can benefit English teaching and learning and also help to further develop people’s communication skills。

Keywords: Pragmatic presupposition; Pragmatic function；TED speech

TED 演讲中语用预设的功能解析

摘要近年来，TED（技术、娱乐、设计）演讲风靡全球。TED 演讲的前沿性，是其它演讲无法比拟的。最先进的科技、最新的思想动态几乎都能在 TED 舞台上见到踪影。

TED演讲是一种公开演讲。演讲是一种语言行为，它用语言和非语言的符号来传达意义或意图，并获得一定的效果。熟练的演讲者会运用各种策略来为演讲服务。语用预设是这些策略中的一种。作为一种新兴的事物，TED演讲正在引起大众的关注。尽管如此，就目前而言，针对TED演讲的研究还是相当少。因此，本文选择对TED研究里的语用预设现象进行分析。

通过分析，笔者试图揭示嵌入在泰德演讲中的各种语用预设，并探究说话者如何运用这些预设，将自己的思想有效传递给他人。本研究有利于英语教学，也有助于人们提高交流技巧。

毕业论文关键词：语用预设；语用功能；TED演讲

Functions of Pragmatic Presupposition in TED Speech

Contents

Abstract in English I

Abstract in Chinese II

I。 Introduction 1

II。 Literature Review of TED Speeches 2

2。1 Definition of Public Speeches 2

2。2 Classification of Public Speeches 2

2。3 TED Speeches 3

III。 Theoretical Framework: Pragmatic Presupposition 5

3。1 Semantic Presupposition 5

3。2 Presupposition Triggers 5

3。3 Pragmatic Presupposition 7

3。3。1 Definition of Pragmatic Presupposition 7

3。3。2 Features of Pragmatic Presupposition 7

3。3。3 Classification of Pragmatic Presupposition 10

IV。 Pragmatic Presupposition in TED Speeches 12

4。1 Fact-oriented Presupposition in TED Speeches 12

4。2 Belief-oriented Presupposition in TED Speeches 13

4。3 State-oriented Presupposition in TED Speeches 14

4。4 Behavior-oriented Presupposition in TED Speeches 15

4。5 Category-oriented Presupposition in TED Speeches