Figuresofspeech..docVIP

Figures of speech: linguistic analysis of humor Hugh Xu Figures of Speech (Stylistic Devices) Types of humor: situational humor Linguistic humor Phonetics, sound, pun, pronunciation causes. Whats black and white and red all over?.... a newspaper. The listener initially thinks the word red is the color red since its preceded by two colors, and then learns that it was the past tense of the verb to read. The listener initially thinks the word means one thing and then finds out that it means something else. There is a contradiction between what the listener initially thinks the word means and what it actually means or is supposed to mean in the joke. Cultural humor Pun puns All women talk too much...take my wife. The audience thinks hes going to mention some example of his wife talking to illustrate his point. Then he says please indicating that the real meaning of his words was that he wanted someone to take his wife off his hands. Lowest form of humor yet the most popular and prevailing device. It is better to live rich than to die rich. (Samuel Johnson) Puns--examples Singapore is a fine city. I can’t bear fools but your mother could. If you havent struck oil in the first three minutes -- stop boring! Chinese examples 施 氏 食 狮 史石室诗士施氏，嗜食狮，誓食十狮。氏时时适市视狮。十时，氏适市。是时，氏视是十狮恃十石矢势，使是十狮逝世。氏拾是十狮尸适石室，石室湿，使侍试拭石室，氏始试食是十狮尸。食时，始识是十狮尸是十石狮尸。是时，氏始识是实事实。试释是事。 34 个shi, 还不包括 “虱蚀屎驶示柿噬仕饰弑轼舐匙什峙 等 Poem text message 卧春 岸梅幽闻花， 卧至伤恨低。 药闻岸是水， 岸似一透大春绿， 岸是绿，岸是绿，岸是绿！ Figures of speech: simile and metaphor Comparison with the words as or like. as busy as a bee. Like a new kid in school. like a flower. Metaphor: Comparison without the words as or like. It is implied, not expressed. He is the soul of the team. Many retirees are couch potatoes… Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs can all be used in a metaphorical way. Examples A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. The man who stops advertising to save money is like the man who stops the clock