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| Some influential ]s have long regarded certain words as being '''inherently funny''', and have used them to enhance the ] of their comic routines. |
Some influential ]s have long regarded certain words as being '''inherently funny''', and have used them to enhance the ] of their comic routines. | ||
| Examples of references to the concept: | Examples of references to the concept: | ||
| * In ]'s '']'', a character says: "Words with a 'k' in it are funny. Alkaseltzer is funny. Chicken is funny. Pickle is funny. All with a 'k'. 'L's are not funny. 'M's are not funny." | * In ]'s '']'', a character says: "Words with a 'k' in it are funny. Alkaseltzer is funny. Chicken is funny. Pickle is funny. All with a 'k'. 'L's are not funny. 'M's are not funny." | ||
| * ]'s "Woody and Tinny words" sketch features extensive play on the sounds of English words for their inherent humour. | * ]'s "Woody and Tinny words" sketch features extensive play on the sounds of English words for their inherent humour. | ||
| * ]'s "Dave Barry Talks Back" has a column on linguistic |
* ]'s "Dave Barry Talks Back" has a column on linguistic humour. He contrasts the phrase "Richard Nixon wearing a neck-tie" with "Richard Nixon wearing a neck-weasel", and concludes that "weasel" is a very funny word. | ||
| * In '']'' episode "Homer the Clown", ] tells ]during a lesson at his clown college: "Memorize these funny place names. ]. ]. ]. ]." | * In '']'' episode "Homer the Clown", ] tells ] during a lesson at his clown college: "Memorize these funny place names. ]. ]. ]. ]." | ||
| These comedy routines, by |
These comedy routines, by propagating the ] that the words used are funny, increased the comedy potential of the words by adding another level of association to comedy. | ||
| In the ], these tend to include words with the letters 'c' and 'k' in and words with the vowel sounds 'oo', 'o' and 'aa'. | In the ], these tend to include words with the letters 'c' and 'k' in and words with the vowel sounds 'oo', 'o' and 'aa'. | ||
| For example: | For example: | ||
| * |
* '']'' | ||
| * |
* '']'' (the comedic writer ] frequently uses ''badger'' in this manner, and has written an essay on how usage makes any joke funnier) | ||
| * |
* ''sock'' | ||
| * |
* ''pock'' | ||
| * |
* ''cack'' | ||
| * |
* '']'' | ||
| * |
* '']'' | ||
| * |
* '']'' | ||
| * |
* '']'' | ||
| * |
* '']'' | ||
| Note also that |
Note also that the words ''aardvark'', ''badger'', ''kumquat'', ''rutabaga'', and ''bassoon'' refer to unusual items for some people, which adds to their surprise/strangeness/humour potential. | ||
| ] and ] words often seem funny to English speakers, in particular those that begin with the /∫/ |
] and ] words often seem funny to English speakers, in particular those that begin with the /∫/ ("sh") sound, spelled as ''sch-''. Texts in the ] often seem comical to English-speaking readers, in part because much written Dutch is partially intelligible, but curiously spelled. | ||
| Another category of |
Another category of words considered funny are those that resemble ] words or invite taboo mispronunciations, such as ''fuchsia''. | ||
| Unresolved questions about inherently funny words include: | Unresolved questions about inherently funny words include: | ||
| * Are there any known ] or ] reasons for why these words are funny? |
* Are there any known ] or ] reasons for why these words are funny? | ||
| * Are the funny sounds the same in other languages? | * Are the funny sounds the same in other languages? | ||
Revision as of 06:49, 15 June 2003
Some influential comedians have long regarded certain words as being inherently funny, and have used them to enhance the humour of their comic routines.
Examples of references to the concept:
- In Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys, a character says: "Words with a 'k' in it are funny. Alkaseltzer is funny. Chicken is funny. Pickle is funny. All with a 'k'. 'L's are not funny. 'M's are not funny."
- Monty Python's "Woody and Tinny words" sketch features extensive play on the sounds of English words for their inherent humour.
- Dave Barry's "Dave Barry Talks Back" has a column on linguistic humour. He contrasts the phrase "Richard Nixon wearing a neck-tie" with "Richard Nixon wearing a neck-weasel", and concludes that "weasel" is a very funny word.
- In The Simpsons episode "Homer the Clown", Krusty the Klown tells Homer during a lesson at his clown college: "Memorize these funny place names. Walla Walla. Keokuk. Cucamonga. Seattle."
These comedy routines, by propagating the meme that the words used are funny, increased the comedy potential of the words by adding another level of association to comedy.
In the English language, these tend to include words with the letters 'c' and 'k' in and words with the vowel sounds 'oo', 'o' and 'aa'.
For example:
- aardvark
- badger (the comedic writer Dave Barry frequently uses badger in this manner, and has written an essay on how usage makes any joke funnier)
- sock
- pock
- cack
- kumquat
- rutabaga
- balloon
- bassoon
- nodal
Note also that the words aardvark, badger, kumquat, rutabaga, and bassoon refer to unusual items for some people, which adds to their surprise/strangeness/humour potential.
Yiddish and German words often seem funny to English speakers, in particular those that begin with the /∫/ ("sh") sound, spelled as sch-. Texts in the Dutch language often seem comical to English-speaking readers, in part because much written Dutch is partially intelligible, but curiously spelled.
Another category of words considered funny are those that resemble taboo words or invite taboo mispronunciations, such as fuchsia.
Unresolved questions about inherently funny words include:
- Are there any known physiological or linguistic reasons for why these words are funny?
- Are the funny sounds the same in other languages?
See also: