Playing with Words: Humour in the English Language by Barry J. Blake

by Barry J. Blake

Humour permeates our lives. People tell jokes, make puns, and engage in witty banter. There is written humour in headlines and captions, in ads, on signs, t-shirts, and bumper stickers, and in the form of graffiti. Nowadays humour is available on the web and circulated by e-mail. Playing with Words shows how every facet of language is exploited for humour. When a word has multiple meanings or sounds like another is the basis for puns (A boiled egg is hard to beat). The word-building rules are used for clever compounds, smart blends and catchy phrases as in 'circulated by word of mouse'. Ambiguities in the syntax afford further scope for humour (Miners refuse to work after death), and the sounds of words can be exploited in humorous verse. There is also humour to be found in slips of the tongue, malapropisms, and funny misspellings.

Playing with Words also covers the subject matter of humour and the part it plays in society. It is an informed account in non-technical language, full of examples, a book to be read for information and for fun.

Genres: Linguistics

Paperback

First published December 30, 2007

About the author

Linguist

Reviews

[Mr Ogologo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Playing with Words - Humour in the English Language" is an enjoyable and engaging read that tickled my fancy from the very beginning. For the author Blake to get into what his objective was, he had to clarify the definitions and ensure that the readers knew the distinctions in the language devices. On page 14 he accurately stated that laughter cannot be used as a barometer for the presence of humour or funniness as the two don't match. We can laugh out of politeness like a social cue and we can also laugh when a situation is peculiar. That particular peculiarity can be borne out of a suddenness, a surprise, which is a characteristic of humour. Blake details that humour is universal but acknowledges that the exact same thing won't be universally funny. There are some actions that will elicit laughter across the global board though, which brings to the mind the silent comedy of Rowan Atkinson best known for his character of Mr Bean which made him stand out on in many countries. Due to the fact that very little words were spoken when he was Mr Bean (with his verbal utterances merely grunts at most), his comedy did very well outside of just the UK. The book goes on to explore various linguistic devices used to convey humour, providing memorable examples such as the absence of logic on page 166 ('I stand for anti-bigotry, anti-semitism and anti-racism.' George Bush, 1988).

Chapter 8, which delves into the realm of wit, particularly piqued my interest. Blake astutely defines the differences between wit and humour, stating that wit is cleverness with words, often humorous but not always. This insight underscores the inherent intelligence within humour.

Blake also examines how errors can generate humour. I found the discussion on spoonerisms (page 144) fascinating, especially the jokes that set up the punchline with a spoonerism but leave the punchline unspoken (e.g., 'What's the difference between a cart horse and a war horse? The war horse darts into the fray...' on page 145). I personally enjoy using such devices for comic relief and as a refreshing break from mundane communication.

The book further explores malapropisms and how the nature of certain words can lead to humour, highlighting the complexities and idiosyncrasies of the English language.

On page 153, I was introduced to a new term, 'Mondegreen' - a mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase due to unfamiliarity with certain words or phrases. This concept added another layer to my understanding of humour in language.

In conclusion, "Playing with Words - Humour in the English Language" is an engaging and enlightening read that offers a deep dive into the mechanics of humour in the English language. It's a very enjoyable read particularly for those interested in linguistics, humour, or both."

[Ivan Zullo · Rating 3 out of 5]

English is a wonderful language and laughing is a serious thing.
"Playing with words" provides plenty of examples to fully understand that.
Barry Blake is a master linguistic and guides the reader through every facet of humour.
It is possible to find humour everywhere and to enjoy it both in written and spoken language.