Multimodality in Conversational Humor
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Salvatore Attardo
Abstract
The paper presents the analysis of the humor found in four dyadic conversations. The results of the conversational data match those of previous studies (Pickering et al., 2009): no differences were found in volume or speech-rate between humorous pause units and non-humorous ones. Similarly, pauses were not found to mark humorous turns. However, the result that punch-lines showed lower pitch than non-humorous parts of the text was not replicated: humorous pause units showed no significant differences in pitch from non-humorous ones. Smiling is found to mark humor only in a general sense of “setting the frame” and is not integrated (i.e., co-extensive) with the humor.
Abstract
The paper presents the analysis of the humor found in four dyadic conversations. The results of the conversational data match those of previous studies (Pickering et al., 2009): no differences were found in volume or speech-rate between humorous pause units and non-humorous ones. Similarly, pauses were not found to mark humorous turns. However, the result that punch-lines showed lower pitch than non-humorous parts of the text was not replicated: humorous pause units showed no significant differences in pitch from non-humorous ones. Smiling is found to mark humor only in a general sense of “setting the frame” and is not integrated (i.e., co-extensive) with the humor.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- About the contributors vii
- Multimodality and Cognitive Linguistics 1
-
Cognitive Linguistics and multimodal metaphor
- Cross-modal resonances in creative multimodal metaphors 13
- Metaphor and symbol 27
- Woven emotions 45
- Approaching the utopia of a global brand 61
- Multimodal metaphors in political entertainment 79
-
Multimodality, Cognitive and Systemic Functional Linguistics
- The visual representation of metaphor 99
- Visual metonymy in children’s picture books 115
- The establishment of interpretative expectations in film 131
- Multimodal digital storytelling 147
-
Cognitive Linguistics and multimodal interaction
- Intermedial cognitive semiotics 167
- Multimodality in Conversational Humor 181
- Image schemas and mimetic schemas in cognitive linguistics and gesture studies 195
- Index 211
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- About the contributors vii
- Multimodality and Cognitive Linguistics 1
-
Cognitive Linguistics and multimodal metaphor
- Cross-modal resonances in creative multimodal metaphors 13
- Metaphor and symbol 27
- Woven emotions 45
- Approaching the utopia of a global brand 61
- Multimodal metaphors in political entertainment 79
-
Multimodality, Cognitive and Systemic Functional Linguistics
- The visual representation of metaphor 99
- Visual metonymy in children’s picture books 115
- The establishment of interpretative expectations in film 131
- Multimodal digital storytelling 147
-
Cognitive Linguistics and multimodal interaction
- Intermedial cognitive semiotics 167
- Multimodality in Conversational Humor 181
- Image schemas and mimetic schemas in cognitive linguistics and gesture studies 195
- Index 211
