Understanding Language through Humor (Paperback)

Stanley Dubinsky

ISBN 10: 0521713889 / ISBN 13: 9780521713887

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2011

About this Item

Paperback. Students often struggle to understand linguistic concepts through examples of language data provided in class or in texts. Presented with ambiguous information, students frequently respond that they do not 'get it'. The solution is to find an example of humour that relies on the targeted ambiguity. Once they laugh at the joke, they have tacitly understood the concept, and then it is only a matter of explaining why they found it funny. Utilizing cartoons and jokes illustrating linguistic concepts, this book makes it easy to understand these concepts, while keeping the reader's attention and interest. Organized like a course textbook in linguistics, it covers all the major topics in a typical linguistics survey course, including communication systems, phonetics and phonology, morphemes, words, phrases, sentences, language use, discourses, child language acquisition and language variation, while avoiding technical terminology. An entertaining entry point into linguistics for those who are interested in language but who might never consider thinking about it in linguistic terms. It is a general introduction to linguistics and linguistic concepts, avoiding technical terminology, using the vehicle of jokes and cartoons. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780521713887

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Understanding Language through Humor (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521713889
• ISBN 13: 9780521713887
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Students often struggle to understand linguistic concepts through examples of language data provided in class or in texts. Presented with ambiguous information, students frequently respond that they don't 'get it'. The solution is to find an example of humour that relies on the targeted ambiguity. Once they laugh at the joke, they have tacitly understood the concept, and then it is only a matter of explaining why they found it funny. Utilizing cartoons and jokes illustrating linguistic concepts, this book makes it easy to understand these concepts, while keeping the reader's attention and interest. Organized like a course textbook in linguistics, it covers all the major topics in a typical linguistics survey course, including communication systems, phonetics and phonology, morphemes, words, phrases, sentences, language use, discourses, child language acquisition and language variation, while avoiding technical terminology.

About the Authors

Stanley Dubinsky is Professor of Linguistics at the University of South Carolina. His primary areas of research are syntax, semantics and linguistic theory.

Chris Holcomb is an Associate Professor of English at the University of South Carolina. His primary research interests include histories of rhetoric, humor, discourse analysis and prose style.