7 Facial expressions as multimodal markers of humor: More evidence from scripted and non-scripted interactions
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Sabina Tabacaru
Abstract
Previous studies (Tabacaru and Lemmens 2014; Tabacaru 2019) have shown that facial expressions, specifically brow movements (see also eye-roll in Colston 2020), play a role in making the speaker’s humorous intention known to the hearer. These gestural triggers have been explored in TV series as well as political debates (Tabacaru 2020) to examine their role in interaction, highlighting the fact that the speakerwants theirmessage to be interpreted as humorous by the interlocutor/ s or the audience. As such, they are considered markers of humor that allow the switch between different frames of meaning (Fauconnier 1994; Coulson 2005). Drawing on previous findings, this chapter deals with multimodality and sarcasm in interaction, focusing on the facial expressions used by the speaker/s in different contexts. The examples presented come from various sources (TV shows, political/cultural shows, TV series, stand-up comedy) in order to analyze the frequency and the use of such facial expressions for humorous purposes. Raised eyebrows are known to play an accentuation role in speech (Rockwell 2000; Krahmer et al. 2002).; in the case of humor, these facial expressions represent gestural triggers allowing the switch from a discourse base space to a pretense space (Brône 2008). Sarcasm is particularly compelling to analyze in these types of interactions since it includes a target that is mocked/criticized (Tabacaru 2018). As such, the speaker’s intention will be accentuated through the use of nonverbal elements as well as verbal ones. These nonverbal elements play a crucial role in intersubjectivity as the speakers need to constantly coordinate their meanings and expectations (Schelling 1960).
Abstract
Previous studies (Tabacaru and Lemmens 2014; Tabacaru 2019) have shown that facial expressions, specifically brow movements (see also eye-roll in Colston 2020), play a role in making the speaker’s humorous intention known to the hearer. These gestural triggers have been explored in TV series as well as political debates (Tabacaru 2020) to examine their role in interaction, highlighting the fact that the speakerwants theirmessage to be interpreted as humorous by the interlocutor/ s or the audience. As such, they are considered markers of humor that allow the switch between different frames of meaning (Fauconnier 1994; Coulson 2005). Drawing on previous findings, this chapter deals with multimodality and sarcasm in interaction, focusing on the facial expressions used by the speaker/s in different contexts. The examples presented come from various sources (TV shows, political/cultural shows, TV series, stand-up comedy) in order to analyze the frequency and the use of such facial expressions for humorous purposes. Raised eyebrows are known to play an accentuation role in speech (Rockwell 2000; Krahmer et al. 2002).; in the case of humor, these facial expressions represent gestural triggers allowing the switch from a discourse base space to a pretense space (Brône 2008). Sarcasm is particularly compelling to analyze in these types of interactions since it includes a target that is mocked/criticized (Tabacaru 2018). As such, the speaker’s intention will be accentuated through the use of nonverbal elements as well as verbal ones. These nonverbal elements play a crucial role in intersubjectivity as the speakers need to constantly coordinate their meanings and expectations (Schelling 1960).
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
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Part 1: Face-to-face interactions
- 1 A multimodal approach to children’s development of humor in family life 15
- 2 On target. On the role of eye-gaze during teases in face-to-face multiparty interaction 53
- 3 Humorous Smiling: A Reverse Cross-Validation of the Smiling Intensity Scale for the Identification of Conversational Humor 87
- 4 Alternative conceptualizations of the Smiling Intensity Scale (SIS) and their applications to the identification of humor 109
- 5 Facial gestures and laughter as a resource for negotiating humor in conversation 131
- 6 Multimodal humor in human-robot interaction 169
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Part 2: Mediated interactions
- 7 Facial expressions as multimodal markers of humor: More evidence from scripted and non-scripted interactions 209
- 8 Emojis and jocular flattery in Chinese instant messaging interactions 231
- 9 More than laughter: Multimodal humour and the negotiation of ingroup identities in mobile instant messaging interactions 263
- 10 Humour and creativity in a family of strangers on Facebook 289
- 11 “Loanword translation and corrective acts are incongruous”: Debating metapragmatic stereotypes through humorous memes 319
- Index 355
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1: Face-to-face interactions
- 1 A multimodal approach to children’s development of humor in family life 15
- 2 On target. On the role of eye-gaze during teases in face-to-face multiparty interaction 53
- 3 Humorous Smiling: A Reverse Cross-Validation of the Smiling Intensity Scale for the Identification of Conversational Humor 87
- 4 Alternative conceptualizations of the Smiling Intensity Scale (SIS) and their applications to the identification of humor 109
- 5 Facial gestures and laughter as a resource for negotiating humor in conversation 131
- 6 Multimodal humor in human-robot interaction 169
-
Part 2: Mediated interactions
- 7 Facial expressions as multimodal markers of humor: More evidence from scripted and non-scripted interactions 209
- 8 Emojis and jocular flattery in Chinese instant messaging interactions 231
- 9 More than laughter: Multimodal humour and the negotiation of ingroup identities in mobile instant messaging interactions 263
- 10 Humour and creativity in a family of strangers on Facebook 289
- 11 “Loanword translation and corrective acts are incongruous”: Debating metapragmatic stereotypes through humorous memes 319
- Index 355
