Failed Humour and its Effects in Conversation: a Case Study

Abstract

Since humor is seen as an important socio-pragmatic discursive strategy, it may be assigned a significant role in regulating conversations. However, humor does not always have positive effects on the on-going conversations and its participants. It may also offend the interlocutors bringing about misunderstanding and confusion in communication, especially, when humor is ill-intended. Such instances of humor are referred to as failed humor, as what seems funny to the speaker may appear very rude to the hearer. The present article addresses the issue of failed humor and aims at analyzing the cases of unperceived as well as rejected humor in verbal interaction. Humor is generally unsuccessful when there is incongruity between the interlocutors’ speaking styles, resulting in an opposition between what is meant and how it is perceived.

Cuvinte-cheie: umor ratat, umor neperceput, umor respins, conversație nereușită, politețe, lipsă de politețe, expeditor, destinatar, strategie

REZUMAT

Întrucât umorul este conceput ca o strategie discursivă socio-pragmatică importantă, i se poate atribui un rol semnificativ în reglarea conversaţiilor. Cu toate acestea, umorul nu are întotdeauna efecte pozitive nici asupra conversaţiilor şi nici asupra participanţilor la ele. De asemenea, el poate ofensa interlocutorii, provocând neînţelege şi confuzie în comunicare, în special atunci când umorul este rău intenţionat. Astfel de umor este denumit „eşuat”, deoarece ceea ce pare amuzant vorbitorului poate părea foarte nepoliticos ascultătorului. În articolul dat, abordăm problema umorului eşuat, neperceput sau chiar respins în interacţiunea verbală. Umorul este, în general, nereuşit atunci când există incongruenţă între stilurile de vorbire ale interlocutorilor, din care rezultă o opoziţie între ceea ce se interpretează şi modul în care se face perceperea celor interpretate.

LANGUAGE OF PUBLICATION

English

UDC: 811.111`42:82-7

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Received: March 5, 2014 | Reviewed: March 14, 2014 | Accepted: March 20, 2014

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