Analyzing structure and function in humor: Preliminary sketch of a message-centered model

Nathan Miczo

doi:10.1515/humor-2014-0073

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Analyzing structure and function in humor: Preliminary sketch of a message-centered model

Nathan Miczo
Nathan Miczo is Professor in the Department of Communication, Western Illinois University. His primary area of teaching and research is interpersonal communication. Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to Nathan Miczo, Department of Communication, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455.

Published/Copyright: August 1, 2014

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From the journal HUMOR Volume 27 Issue 3

Abstract

Utilizing Attardo's general theory of verbal humor and Meyer's rhetorical functions of humor, as well as insights from conversation analysis, this paper presents a model linking form and function in conversational humor. In the model, an initial pair of incongruous scripts (i.e., a script opposition) is activated as membership categories are referenced in the set-up. The punch- or jab-line introduces a second script opposition that “resolves” or makes sense out of the first opposition in terms of preference organization (presenting either a preferred or dispreferred response). When examining conversational humor, those preferences have implications in terms of uniting or dividing interlocutors. If the resolution aligns with the preferred entity/activity of the set-up, then the effect should be unifying. If the resolution does not align (i.e., is dispreferred), then the effect should be divisive. The model is used to analyze two jokes and two conversational sequences.

Keywords: general theory of verbal humor; humor functions; membership categorization; preference organization

About the author

Nathan Miczo

Nathan Miczo is Professor in the Department of Communication, Western Illinois University. His primary area of teaching and research is interpersonal communication. Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to Nathan Miczo, Department of Communication, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455.

Published Online: 2014-8-1

Published in Print: 2014-8-1

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2014-0073

Keywords for this article

general theory of verbal humor; humor functions; membership categorization; preference organization