2. 2
BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
• There are various ways of saying basically the same
thing, but the words we use tell stories about who
we are.
• Humorous language takes advantage of our
differences. It’s often these very differences that
make a joke funny.
• Linguists use the S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G. or the V.A.R.I.E.S.
models of language and humor variation to describe
the important differences that are exhibited amongst
speakers in our society.
3. 3
S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G. MODEL
by John Gumpers and Dell Hymes
• S-Setting
• P-Participants
• E-Ends
• A-Act Sequence
• K-Key Tone or Mood
• I-Instrumentalities (writing vs. speech)
• N-Norms (expectations of the situation)
• G-Genre (e-mail, chant, research paper)
4. 4
V.A.R.I.E.S. MODEL
by Don and Alleen Nilsen
• V-VOCATIONAL JARGON AND HUMOR
– Computer Guys, Doctors, Lawyers, Linguists, Teachers
• A-AGE-RELATED LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Children, Teenagers, Old People
• R-REGIONAL LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– California, Canada, New York, South
• I-INFORMAL OR FORMAL LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Casual Acquaintances, Lovers, Friends, Relatives
• E-ETHNIC LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Blacks, Indians, Jews, Mexicans
• S-SEX-RELATED LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Males, Females, Lesbians, Gays
24. British Humor
Accents and Archetypes of Great Britain:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=youtube+british+dialects&view=detail&mid=2DDBFA52A6AC272F4D9D
2DDBFA52A6AC272F4D9D&FORM=VIRE
24
46. Now it’s your turn. Tell us some jokes that relate to the
V.A.R.I.E.S. Model
• V-VOCATIONAL JARGON
– Computer Guys, Doctors, Lawyers, Linguists, Teachers
• A-AGE-RELATED LANGUAGE
– Children, Teenagers, Old People
• R-REGIONAL LANGUAGE
– California, Canada, New York, South
• I-INFORMAL OR FORMAL LANGUAGE
– Casual Acquaintances, Lovers, Friends, Relatives
• E-ETHNIC LANGUAGE
– Blacks, Indians, Jews, Mexicans
• S-SEX-RELATED LANGUAGE
– Males, Females, Lesbians, Gays 46