Incongruity-resolution cases in jokes (original) (raw)

Incongruity-resolution cases in jokes [Lingua 197: 103-122 (2017)]

The incongruity-resolution model is one of the most popular theories that propose an explanation for the strategies underlying humorous texts. In this paper, a taxonomy of incongruity-resolution Cases is proposed according to a relevance-theoretic stance. Then, the extent to which these Cases are exhaustive enough to cover the whole range of possible incongruity-resolution patterns is checked with a corpus of jokes. Furthermore, an analysis is carried out concerning the implications of matching certain kinds of jokes with specific Cases of the taxonomy. Some conclusions on their pragmatic quality and their overall humorous effects are also drawn.

The cognitive linguistics of incongruity resolution: Marked reference-point structures in humor

Previous research in cognitive semantics has focused on various mechanisms of 'dynamic' meaning construction, like metaphor, metonymy, conceptual integration, irony and sarcasm. The present paper aims at broadening the scope of analysis to include the largely underfranchised topic of humor (in the broadest sense) in the cognitive paradigm. In a first section of the paper, it is argued that Croft & Cruse's (in press) typology of construal operations provides a useful key for fitting in the cognitive linguistic contribution into existing linguistic humor-theoretical frameworks (as e.g. Attardo's GTVH). In a second part of the paper, one specific construal operation, metonymy, is explored with respect to its functionality in the cognitive resolution process of humor interpretation. On the basis of a heterogeneous corpus, a range of marked reference-point constructions is abstracted and related to a higher-level strategy of balanced processing difficulty and optimal innovation (Giora 2002). The paper closes off with an overview of experimental-psychological studies relating to the present account and some questions that need further empirical backup.

From perception of contraries to humorous incongruities

Topics in humor research, 2013

According to the cognitive approach to humour, the understanding of jokes implies the recognition of an incongruity followed by its resolution. Through our work, we aim to contribute to this strand of research by investigating the link between cognitive processes and the understanding of humour. In particular, we will explore the distinction between the three different types of contrariety (global, intermediate and additive) that has emerged from the research on the psychology of perception and is characterised by different perceptual evidence, and how it applies to the concept of incongruity. We will also discuss what a reading of humorous incongruity in terms of perceptual patterns may add to previous definitions of incongruity and how it helps to contribute to the further operationalisation thereof.

Computational models for incongruity detection in humour

2010

Incongruity resolution is one of the most widely accepted theories of humour, suggesting that humour is due to the mixing of two disparate interpretation frames in one statement. In this paper, we explore several computational models for incongruity resolution. We introduce a new data set, consisting of a series of 'set-ups'(preparations for a punch line), each of them followed by four possible coherent continuations out of which only one has a comic effect.

The Incongruity of Incongruity Theories of Humor

Organon F, 2007

The article critically reviews the Incongruity Theory of Humor reaching the conclusion that it has to be essentially restructured. Leaving aside the question of scope, it is shown that the theory is inadequate even for those cases for which it is thought to be especially well suited-that it cannot account either for the pleasurable effect of jokes or for aesthetic pleasure. I argue that it is the resolution of the incongruity rather than its mere apprehension, which is that source of the amusement or aesthetic delight. Once the theory is thus restructured, the Superiority Theory of Humor and the Relief Theory can be seen as supplementary to it.

Incongruity in humor: Root cause or epiphenomenon?

Humor-international Journal of Humor Research, 2004

Humour and incongruity appear to be constant bedfellows, for at the heart of every joke one can point to some degree of absurdity, illogicality or violation of expectation. This observation has lead many theories of humour to base themselves around some notion of incongruity or opposition, most notably the semantic-script theory (or SSTH) of Raskin and the subsequent general theory (or GTVH) of Attardo and Raskin. But correlation does not imply causality (a reality used to good effect in many successful examples of humour), and one should question whether incongruity serves a causal role in the workings and appreciation of humour or merely an epiphenomenal one.

A relevance-theoretic classification of jokes

Relevance Theory pictures communication as an inferential activity that adjusts, in parallel, the explicit content of utterances, the implicated premises and conclusions that can be derived, and the right amount of contextual information needed to obtain them. When applied to jokes, a relevance-theoretic classification may be proposed depending on whether the humorist plays with the audience’s inferential activity aimed at an explicit interpretation, with the audience’s inference devoted to deriving implications or with their access to the right amount and quality of contextual information needed to obtain relevant interpretations. In this paper three types of jokes are proposed which focus on these aspects. A fourth type is also added, but this time referred to broad contextual assumptions on social or cultural values of society that are targeted by humorists.

A general mechanism of humor: reformulating the semantic overlap (preprint)

HUMOR: International Journal of Humor Research, 2023

This article proposes a cognitive mechanism of humour of general applicability, not restricted to verbal communication. It is indebted to Raskin's concept of script overlap, and conforms to the incongruity-resolution theoretical framework, but it is built on the notion of constraint, an abstract correspondence between sets of data. Under this view, script overlap is an outcome of a more abstractly described phenomenon, constraint overlap. The important concept of the overlooked argument is introduced to characterise the two overlapping constraints-overt and covert. Their inputs and outputs are not directly encoded in utterances, but implicated by them, and their overlap results in another overlap at the level of the communicated utterances, that the incongruity reveals. Our hypothesis assumes as a given that the evocation of such constraints is a cognitive effect of the inferential process by which a hearer interprets utterances. We base this assumption on Hofstadter's theory of analogy-making as the essence of human thought. By substituting "stimuli" of any kind for "utterances" in this model, we obtain a mechanism as easily applicable to non-verbal communication-slapstick, cartoonsand we propose it describes the necessary and sufficient conditions for a communicative act in any modality to carry humour.

Yus’s and Jodłowiec’s relevance-theoretic approaches to jokes: a critical comparison

Anglica 22 (2): 87-99, 2013

The prime objective of this paper is to compare Yus’s (2003, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012ab) and Jodłowiec’s (1991ab, 2008) accounts of jokes based on the assumptions of Relevance Theory (RT; Sperber and Wilson 1986 [1995], 2002, 2004). To meet this objective, I explore Yus’s and Jodłowiec’s classifications and models of joke comprehension since there is a strong link between the two phenomena.

The Mechanism of Humour Under Relevance-Theoretic Perspective

Linguagem Em Curso, 2014

In this paper, I present a model to explain the mechanism of humour, combining the concept of bisociation as proposed by Koestler (1964) with the cognitive and the communicative principles of relevance as proposed by Sperber and Wilson (1986/1995). I suggest that the development of humour occurs by recourse to bisociation, which, in turn, is reflected by the junction of an enthymeme and a paradox. In order to interpret the result of the fusion of these logical procedures in some jokes, I develop an analysis based on the relevance-theoretic comprehension procedure. I finally propose the concept of paradoxical implicated conclusion, a phenomenon that only occurs in humorous genre.