Script Oppositions and Humorous Tагgets: Promoting Values and Constructing Identities via Humor in Greek Conversational Data
Argiris Archakis
Villy Tsakona
Abstract
Recent pragmatic research focuses on the issue of identity construction via humor. In this paper, we intend to investigate how could the General Theory of Verbal Humor (in Attardo 2001, henceforth GTVH) contribute to the analysis of humor as a means of iden[1]tity construction. Among the six knowledge resources proposed by the GTVH we focus on target and script opposition. The first one helps us identify whose behavior our young informants consider incongruous and, at the same time, worth laughing at. The second one reveals the specific (and often implicit) norms ard values shared by conversationalists. We illustrate our points u mg Greek conversational narratives coming from same-gen[1]der groups of young Greek males and females. We show that, in our data, conversationa[1]lists select targets either outside or inside their group. Special emphasis is given to sel[1]f-targeting humor (henceforth STH) and its function as a discourse strategy used for iden[1]tity construction. Previous research on this kind of humor has revealed that STH can be interpreted as an index of either lack or presence of self-confidence and self-esteem. Our data show that, by using STH, our interlocutors indirectly point to a positive self-image. In all cases, the target of humor reinforces the existing bonds among group members, while bringing the evaluative dimension of humor to the surface and revealing the group values. Finally, our analysis brings an interesting pragmatic difference to the surface. This difference is related to the effect of humor on the identities constructed: through humor directed at other people’s behavior (in the cases of out- and in-group targets), the speaker eventually de-legitimizes those others, while, through self-targeting humor, the speaker aims at legitimizing him/herself and his/her own actions.
Keywords:
Humor, General Theory of Verbal Humor (GTVH), jab line, conversational narrative, script opposition, target (of humor), laughter, construction of identity, face, self-targeting humor, (socially acceptet) valueReferences
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Argiris ArchakisAuthors
Villy TsakonaStatistics
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