INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Humor and laughter play a vital role in enhancing our immune system, increasing energy levels, reducing pain, and shielding us from stress Often referred to as the best medicine, humor inspires enthusiasm for work and serves as an antidote to life's challenges This invaluable remedy is not only enjoyable but also accessible and cost-free A simple smile can significantly enhance your appearance and contribute to a youthful spirit Consequently, humor is a fundamental element of daily interactions and is recognized as a cultural universal, reflecting a shared aspect of humanity.
Jokes serve as a fundamental form of entertainment and social interaction, often found in newspapers or shared among friends, highlighting the absurdity of various situations Gruner (1978) emphasizes that without laughter, daily life loses its vibrancy, making humor one of the most valued traits in individuals This significance of humor has led to its extensive study within English linguistics, attracting researchers for centuries who explore its diverse impacts and benefits.
Humor varies significantly across cultures, making it a complex aspect for language learners to navigate Different types of humor resonate with individuals based on their cultural backgrounds, leading to unique senses of humor in various countries Consequently, grasping humor in a foreign language can pose significant challenges for those learning it.
Lexical ambiguity in verbal humor presents a significant challenge for EFL and ESL learners, as it demands advanced linguistic, social, and cultural competence (20014:7).
(2007), to understand the humor content language learners need to be able to comprehend the literal meaning as well as the implication meaning, which needs a certain level of language proficiency.
Jokes serve as a linguistic tool for communication, primarily through playful manipulation of language Analyzing the linguistic features of jokes is essential for understanding their humor, as verbal jokes possess unique characteristics at the lexical, syntactic, and rhetorical levels Clarity is crucial, and lexical ambiguity often hinders interpretation, leading to misunderstandings However, Raskin (1985) noted that ambiguity can enhance humor, while Stageberg (1970) warned that it poses a risk to clear expression Ultimately, the presence of ambiguity in verbal jokes contributes to their linguistic humor.
Research on ambiguity in English texts has garnered significant interest from linguists and scholars Previous studies have primarily concentrated on specific areas, such as analyzing ambiguity in headlines and advertisements (Oaks, 1994; Bucaria, 2004) or exploring linguistic ambiguity as a means of creating humor in English verbal jokes (Nguyen Hai Ha, 2011) However, there is a noticeable gap in the literature, as no studies have yet compared lexical ambiguity in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes from these perspectives.
As an English as a Foreign Language teacher, the researcher firmly believes that incorporating humor into language learning can greatly enhance the educational experience Verbal jokes play a crucial role in enriching both the cultural and spiritual aspects of communication, making them an essential tool for effective language acquisition.
Humor plays a vital role in language learning, serving as an effective tool in the classroom that enriches linguistic and cultural understanding By incorporating jokes, teachers can boost student motivation and engagement, alleviate anxiety, and foster a more interactive and enjoyable learning environment (Powell and Anderson, 1985) This approach not only creates a pleasant classroom atmosphere but also encourages students to participate actively, particularly those who may feel apprehensive about making mistakes The researcher aims to enhance the interest of Vietnamese learners of English by exploring the similarities and differences in humor between English and Vietnamese verbal jokes, ultimately facilitating a deeper comprehension of the lessons.
Stimulated by this recognition, the researcher conducted the paper entitled
“ A comparativestudy on lexical ambiguity that causes funniness in English and Vietnameseverbal jokes ”
This paper focuses on comparing the types of lexical ambiguity that serve as humorous stimuli in various English and Vietnamese verbal texts, highlighting the role of lexical ambiguity in creating humor in both languages' verbal jokes.
The findings of this study serve as a valuable resource for both linguistic and non-linguistic learners Linguists and educators will appreciate the straightforward approach to comparing lexical ambiguity, enabling English learners to not only read texts but also grasp their meanings while identifying similarities and differences between their native language and English Additionally, this research aims to assist EFL learners in Vietnam in better understanding English-written jokes, thereby increasing their engagement with the language.
Aims
The present study is set out to address the following objectives
First, this study aims to find out the types of lexical ambiguity which cause funniness in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes
Second, from this analysis some implications are drawn out for using humor in language teaching and learning
The researcher aims to explore the lexical ambiguity that elicits laughter in English and Vietnamese jokes To achieve this, they will analyze verbal jokes from four English joke books and four Vietnamese joke collections.
Secondly, 40 English and Vietnamese verbal jokes are collected for analysis Some categories and subcategories of English and Vietnamese verbal jokes involving lexical ambiguity are proposed
This article explores the lexical ambiguity found in English and Vietnamese jokes, highlighting both the similarities and differences in how this ambiguity generates humor By comparing these jokes, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind the laughter they evoke.
Finally, from the analysis of the chosen joke texts, some pedagogical implications can be drawn.
These aims, can be elaborated into two research questions:
1 What are the similarities in the types of lexical ambiguity used to create funniness in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes?
2 What are the differences in the types of lexical ambiguity used to create funniness in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes?
Hypotheses
Based on the literature review, there are two hypotheses:
1 Both English and Vietnamese verbal jokes use lexical ambiguity (in the forms of homonyms, homophones and polysemy, obscure references, specific and general meanings) to arouse humor
2 There can be a difference in the way using each type of lexical ambiguity to arouse humor situations in English verbal jokes compared to Vietnamese ones.
Scope of the study
This study focuses on English and Vietnamese verbal jokes, specifically examining lexical ambiguity within this humor type It excludes non-verbal jokes, such as those found in silent films, cartoons, or clowning The research is limited to a selection of jokes sourced from four English joke books and four Vietnamese joke books, rather than addressing verbal jokes as a whole.
This gathering seeks to demonstrate the significance of investigating verbal jokes that utilize lexical ambiguity In this study, the concept of humor is defined as the lexically ambiguous nature of jokes, which allows readers to interpret them in multiple ways A selection of forty English and Vietnamese verbal jokes from eight different books has been made for analysis However, the limited sample size does not encompass all relevant issues, and these self-identified limitations will be addressed in the final chapter, with the hope of inspiring future research in this field.
This study explores the role of lexical ambiguity in creating humor in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes By employing a comparative method, it highlights the similarities in types of lexical ambiguity present in both languages, while also utilizing a contrasting method to identify the differences between them.
Significance of the study
First, the study is expected to be an informative, useful and interesting source for linguistics learners More specifically, this paper equips linguists and
This article highlights six linguistics teachers who effectively address lexical ambiguity, providing English learners with accessible texts for analysis Through detailed explanations and humorous examples, the paper enhances understanding of lexically ambiguous content, making it easier for students to engage with and compare similar texts.
This study aims to empower readers, particularly English students with limited language skills, to engage confidently in communication events By doing so, it seeks to reduce the likelihood of communication breakdowns and cultural shocks (Pepicello and Green, 1984).
This study aims to provide pedagogical recommendations for selecting verbal joke samples that highlight the similarities and differences in lexical ambiguity between two languages The findings are intended to serve as a reliable and comprehensive resource for understanding linguistic aspects, particularly in the context of ambiguity comparison.
Thesis outline
This Master’s thesis is comprised of five chapters
Chapter 1 gives the rationale of the study by discussing the importance of verbal jokes and lexical ambiguity in language learning and teaching It then discusses the aims, the scope, the hypothesis and the significance of the study and gives a proposed outline of the thesis
Chapter 2 provides a theoretical notion of lexical ambiguity and verbal jokes; previous studies on the ambiguity-based theories of verbal jokes in English and Vietnamese
Chapter 3 highlights the methodology of the study to analyze and compare lexical ambiguity that causes funniness in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes Chapter 4 results and discuss the findings
Chapter 5 summarizes the study, explains the findings, points out the limitations of the study, suggests some pedagogical implications and gives recommendations for future research
LITERATURE REVIEW
Verbal jokes
As a first step to the discussion of lexical ambiguity research to verbal jokes, it is necessary to clarify what is meant by the broader key term of
“humor” and how verbal jokes differ from other types of humor
Humor can be defined in various ways, with the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2002) highlighting two key aspects: first, it encompasses the ability to comprehend and appreciate what is funny, leading to laughter; second, it involves the capacity to recognize and enjoy the quality of inducing amusement.
Langer (2003) posited that laughter is a physical response often triggered by tickling, highlighting that humor is a key element that elicits amusement He argued that humor resides in comic drama while laughter emerges from its structure, emphasizing that humor is not the essence of comedy but rather a vital component Bell (1996) defined humor as a specific communicative mood designed to amuse, framing it as a social message crafted through various techniques to provoke laughter.
All in all, a brief survey of humor definitions has suggested that the definition of humor embraces at least three elements First, humor is the
Human beings exhibit intelligence through various characteristics, one of which is humor This trait encompasses elements that are witty, satirical, funny, and even ridiculous, yet it is conveyed in a gentle and well-intentioned way Ultimately, humor is often associated with laughter or an inward smile, highlighting its role in human connection and social interaction.
Linguists like Attardo (1994), Norrick (1996), and Lew (1996) have focused on the intricacies of verbal humor, analyzing how language and text contribute to its effectiveness Traditionally, studies have concentrated on verbal jokes, whether delivered in conversation or compiled in collections However, the exploration of verbal humor is often limited to jokes, overlooking other forms such as allusions and puns.
Jokes, as described by Lew (1996: 11), are concise narratives that typically feature brief dialogues between two characters, rarely exceeding four The core structure of these jokes revolves around a punchline, which is strategically placed at the end of the narrative The primary function of the narrative is to offer sufficient context that enhances the impact of the punchline or creates a sense of incongruity.
Hockett (1977) emphasized that verbal jokes are primarily expressed through language, distinguishing them from non-verbal forms like cartoons or silent films He, along with other linguistic scholars, highlighted that these jokes typically involve a narrative or conversational setup, culminating in a punchline that delivers an element of surprise Helzron (1991) further defined verbal humor as a brief piece of oral literature where the humor peaks in the punchline, often found in the first sentence.
According to Dinh Gia Khanh (1997: 15), jokes in Vietnamese culture are narratives that highlight humorous aspects of everyday life, aiming to evoke laughter while also critiquing societal vices and bad habits Consequently, the content of these jokes reflects the ongoing conflict between good and bad in real-life interactions.
Similarly, Do Binh Tri (1999: 6) defined jokes talked about the humorous phenomenon which manifest human activities to create laughter
Verbal jokes are a humorous phenomenon that occurs in daily life, characterized by elements designed to provoke laughter or critique individuals This definition highlights the comedic nature of verbal humor in both English and Vietnamese contexts.
According to Attardo (1994) in "Humorous Text: A Semantic and Pragmatic Analysis," verbal jokes are characterized as brief and easily recognizable forms of humor commonly used in daily conversations He identified two main categories of verbal jokes: canned jokes, which are pre-formulated and require minimal context, and conversation jokes, which rely heavily on contextual support for their humor.
Canned jokes are context-free and can be used in various situations, making them versatile In contrast, conversational jokes arise spontaneously during interactions and are more context-bound, tied to the specific events in which they occur While canned jokes can be shared across different contexts, conversational jokes are limited to their original conversational settings.
The research utilized published verbal jokes that were context-free, ensuring no confusion between different joke types, as they were strictly canned jokes.
2.1.3 The role of linguistic ambiguity in verbal jokes
According to Nash (1985), both the Script-based Semantic Theory of Humor and Incongruity Theory highlight that a key characteristic of many verbal jokes is their use of double meanings, which mislead the listener and lead to the punch line.
This diversity of semantic interpretation actually takes on the linguistic ambiguity form Shultz and Horibe (1974: 13) found out, “a thorough analysis of
Research indicates that numerous verbal jokes rely on linguistic ambiguity for their effectiveness Paulos (2008) suggests that jokes can be viewed as a form of structural ambiguity, where the punchline triggers a shift in interpretation, leading to a humorous resolution.
Verbal jokes often showcase linguistic ambiguity, with the clue indicating this ambiguity typically aligning with the punchline However, it's important to note that the ambiguous element can appear earlier in the joke's structure Research by Attardo (1994) revealed that 80% of the data he analyzed followed this pattern, highlighting the flexibility in joke construction.
2.1.4 Factors that causes the funniness in verbal jokes
According to Lew (1996), laughter in response to a joke is influenced by various factors, including cultural and ethnic identity, attitudes, character identification, delivery style, mood, sex, age, family traditions, situational context, and social and personality traits Thus, an individual's ability to appreciate a joke often reflects their sense of humor, knowledge of the subject matter, and situational awareness.
Among these factors, the most popular ones are cultural and ethnic identity, personal differences, clever use language, and mode of delivery
Lexical ambiguity
Ambiguity is defined as a word or phrase that possesses multiple meanings According to Pepicello and Weisberg (1983), linguistic humor in amusing narratives arises from manipulating phonological, morphological, or syntactic features to create ambiguities Three key factors contribute to ambiguity in punchlines: phonological, morphological, and syntactic levels, making it a significant source of linguistic jokes Ambiguity can be classified into two primary types: lexical-semantic ambiguity, where words or phrases have multiple meanings, and structural-syntactic ambiguity, where a word's role or its relationship with other sentence elements has various interpretations All other subcategories of ambiguity fit within these two classifications This study primarily focuses on lexical ambiguity in linguistic jokes.
Lexical ambiguity occurs when a word possesses multiple meanings, allowing for its use in diverse contexts This ambiguity can be categorized into homonyms and homophones, and it plays a significant role in humor, accounting for over half of all jokes.
Lexical ambiguity occurs when a word has multiple meanings within a context, as defined by Hurford (2007:121) and Oaks (1994:378) This type of ambiguity arises from the various interpretations of a word or lexical items in a sentence, playing a crucial role in identifying and characterizing systematic sequences An example of lexical ambiguity can demonstrate how it contributes to humor.
The conversation took place between two teachers:
T1: Do you allow your boys to smoke?
T2: No, by all means, no!
T2: Oh, that’s quite all right, as long as they don’t eat too many
The joke revolves around a conversation between two teachers, where Teacher 1 inquires about the behaviors she permits her students The options presented include smoking, drinking, and dating girls However, Teacher 2 humorously interprets "dating" as eating too many dates, highlighting the lexical ambiguity of the word "date." This term can refer both to a social meeting with someone of the opposite sex and to the fruit, leading to a comical misunderstanding between the two teachers.
“a sweet brown sticky fruit that grows on a palm tree.” Thus, this feature makes people laugh
Lexical ambiguity arises when a word possesses multiple meanings within a specific context According to Hurford (2007: 123), this ambiguity originates from two main sources: polysemy and homonyms It is essential to differentiate between these two concepts, as the distinction lies in the degree of relatedness between the various meanings of the ambiguous words.
In Vietnamese, according to Nguyen Duc Dan (2013), lexical ambiguity appears when it contains lexical elements that have more than one meaning The example below illustrates his theory
“Khi nghe điện thoại người (cha) ba reo, người con bắt máy giúp và được người gọi đề nghị gặp người ba (cha) người con nói:
Ba ơi! Điện thoại của bác ba nè!
The joke revolves around the word "Ba," which has multiple interpretations in Vietnamese It can refer to "father," serving as a call from Uncle Third to his dad Alternatively, it could imply that "Ba" is the name of Uncle Third, or it might indicate that this is Uncle Third's phone This linguistic ambiguity creates humor in the joke.
“father” and “uncle third” made the story funny
In English, lexical ambiguity plays a significant role in creating punchlines, influenced by five key factors: polysemy, homonyms, homophones, obscure references, and the distinction between specific and general meanings This article will explore each of these elements in detail.
Polysemy refers to a lexical item that possesses multiple meanings, as defined by Crystal (2007: 274) According to Huford (2007: 123), polysemy occurs when a word has several closely related senses.
Polysemy refers to the phenomenon where a single word possesses multiple meanings that are interrelated and dependent on context This linguistic characteristic highlights that not only do distinct words carry unique meanings, but a single word can also encompass a range of different interpretations.
“She can’t bear the children.”
To appreciate the humor in this sentence, one must grasp the dual meanings of the word "bear." In English, "bear" can mean "to give birth to someone" or "to endure something unpleasant."
16 without complaining.” Hence, this sentence can be understood as: “she is not able to give birth to children” or “she is not able to tolerate the children.”
In Vietnam, lexical ambiguity arises from polysemy, where a single word possesses one original meaning along with multiple related meanings, as highlighted by Tran Thuy Vinh (2008).
Cô giáo: “Tí! Hãy cho cô biết bi ể n là gì?”
Tí: Thưa cô! “ Bi ể n là bài thơ của Xuân Diệu ạ!”
In this joke, the word “ Bien ” is polysemy In Vietnamese “Bien” means
The term "sea" has two meanings: it refers to a vast expanse of salty water that is part of an ocean, and it is also the title of a poem by Xuan Dieu In a humorous exchange, a teacher asked a student to define "sea," but the student mistakenly thought the teacher was referring to the poem's title instead This misunderstanding added a lighthearted twist to the lesson, highlighting the playful nature of language.
“ Sea ” whereas the student answered the name of a famous poem was written by
According to Hurford (2007:123), homonyms are ambiguous words with multiple meanings that are often unrelated and distinct from one another These words exhibit a range of meanings that can be influenced by their frequency of use and lexical similarity, as well as the context in which they appear, ultimately determining which meaning is selected.
The term "can" serves as an example of homonyms, as seen in the phrases "I can swim" and "I drank a Coke can," where the two meanings lack any conceptual link Therefore, distinguishing between absolute homonyms and partial homonyms is essential for clarity.
According to Lyons (1995:55), absolute homonyms can be categorized into three distinct cases: first, they have unrelated meanings; second, all their forms are identical; and third, these identical forms are grammatically equivalent This definition is clearly illustrated in the following example.
“John lives near the bank ”
Previous studies on lexical ambiguity that causes funniness
Research into the role of ambiguity in humor studies has captivated linguists, beginning with Stageberg (1970), who provided a comprehensive taxonomy of syntactic ambiguity in English He differentiated between lexical and structural ambiguity, as well as class and script ambiguity Following this, Taha (1983) suggested that structural ambiguity arises from poorly constructed sentences lacking formal clarity, proposing a twelve-category classification for syntactic ambiguity in both written and spoken contexts However, Taha acknowledged that his taxonomy was not exhaustive, indicating the existence of additional types of ambiguity While the connection between ambiguity and humor is noted in literature, studies exploring the linguistic mechanisms of ambiguity as a humor source remain limited.
Pepicello and Green (1984) pioneered the study of linguistic ambiguity in riddles, analyzing the grammatical strategies employed to craft them Their research utilized a variety of riddles and jokes from diverse cultural backgrounds, highlighting the unique characteristics of this genre Additionally, they compared linguistic data across languages beyond English, enriching the understanding of riddles in a broader context.
This article explores the similarities and differences between Spanish and English riddles, highlighting that Spanish riddles utilize a range of grammatical strategies that closely align with those found in English However, since the study exclusively examined Spanish riddles, its contribution to the cross-linguistic understanding of ambiguity phenomena remains limited.
Attardo (1994) proposed a linguistic theory of humor, emphasizing that puns involve larger segments of utterances rather than just individual words, utilizing homophones to create ambiguity He highlighted the challenges in analyzing puns, particularly distinguishing between ambiguous words and puns Attardo noted that while the two meanings in a pun can appear random, they must be semantically incompatible within their context This led to the development of the Semantic Script Theory of Humor (SSTH), initially introduced by Raskin (1985) and later expanded by Attardo in the General Theory of Verbal Humor (GTHV) In this framework, ambiguity plays a crucial role, with the Semantic Script switch being activated by contradiction or ambiguity Raskin identified various types of ambiguity, including figurative, regular, syntactic, and situational ambiguity, which are based on phonetic rather than semantic relationships between words.
In her 2003 review of psycholinguistic literature, Giora explored the processing of jokes and irony, highlighting the significance of the salience hypothesis in understanding humor She argued that the salience of certain words plays a crucial role in how we interpret humorous texts, suggesting that we first process the most salient words, which often leads to unexpected meanings and surprises in jokes.
The study revealed that contextually incompatible meanings were less prominent than compatible ones, indicating a need to revisit the initially activated meaning Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that high-constraint sentences required longer reading times, suggesting that the suppression of incompatible meanings is a time-consuming process.
Oaks (1994) explored the role of ambiguity in humor advertising, focusing on how to create rather than avoid it His study primarily examined syntactic ambiguity, identifying obstacles such as agreement rules and grammatical redundancies that typically protect language from ambiguity However, from the perspective of someone aiming to generate ambiguity, these elements were seen as impediments Additionally, Oaks utilized riddles and popular jokes to uncover various forms of ambiguity involving verbs, conjunctions, and other expressions that enhance humor through class ambiguity.
Lew's (1996) study on the exploitation of ambiguity in verbal jokes serves as a foundational reference for this paper He made significant contributions by categorizing various types of linguistic ambiguity present in jokes and identifying several factors that influence the perception of their humor However, Lew's work primarily focused on listing these factors without providing explanations or empirical testing with specific respondents Additionally, his categorization included some classes that were either trivial or overlapping.
Bucaria's 2004 study on lexical and syntactic ambiguity as a source of humor focused on humorous headlines The research revealed that lexical ambiguity primarily arises from the use of nouns, verbs, and prepositions Specifically, the findings identified 25 verbs, 38 nouns, 5 prepositions, and 3 other categories that contributed to ambiguity in humorous texts, highlighting that the humor is effective when the word class remains unchanged.
Humorous headlines often function like lexically based jokes, with nouns playing a crucial role in creating ambiguity, while adverbs have minimal impact Bucaria's research on ambiguous humor headlines reveals that confusion typically arises between nouns and verbs, where a word may serve as a noun in a serious context but as a verb in a humorous one, or vice versa This observation is supported by the existence of 1,366 words that can function as both nouns and verbs, some of which have unrelated meanings, such as "tire" and "bluff," while others share related meanings like "cap" and "coin."
Numerous authors have explored the theme of humor in Vietnamese literature, notably Nguyen Duc Dan and Tran Thi Ngoc Lang (1992), who investigated "wrong sentences and ambiguous sentences." Their research highlighted how vague sentences and situations can lead to misunderstandings that elicit laughter They identified two primary methods for creating ambiguity: first, by presenting unusual situations that are misinterpreted as normal, and second, by utilizing linguistic ambiguity within similar sentence structures Additionally, Tran Thuy Vinh (2006) examined various techniques for clarifying lexical and syntactic ambiguities in both Vietnamese and English This study emphasized the importance of disambiguating sentences for translators and language learners, as it enhances comprehension and interpretation skills, allowing for more effective communication across languages.
Huynh Thi Hoai's 2007 pragmatic study explored humor in English and Vietnamese funny stories, highlighting both similarities and differences in the pragmatic factors that elicit laughter The research analyzed various humor texts, revealing that violations of speech act rules in both languages can lead to humor, although cultural differences necessitate simplicity in jokes for effective understanding The study emphasized the importance of illocutionary points in speech acts but noted a lack of comprehensive cross-cultural comparisons and empirical research in cross-cultural communication, limiting the applicability of the findings to all humorous phenomena.
Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung's 2010 study explored implicature in English and Vietnamese humorous stories, aiming to identify misunderstandings caused by implicature in both languages The findings revealed that both English and Vietnamese utilize similar mechanisms of implicature, often involving the floating or violating of maxims to elicit laughter However, the study also highlighted that cultural differences lead to varying interpretations between the two languages Despite its contributions, the research faced limitations in data collection and primarily focused on the humor mechanisms based on maxims, addressing only a narrow aspect of short funny stories.
In her 2012 thesis, Nguyen Hai Ha explored the role of linguistic ambiguity in generating humor within English verbal jokes The study aimed to identify how this ambiguity serves as a key mechanism in crafting humorous speech acts, analyzing a collection of 50 jokes.
A study on English verbal jokes identified five types of linguistic ambiguity that contribute to humor: lexical, structural, phonological, pragmatic, and mixed ambiguity Lexical ambiguity, which includes polysemy, homonyms, homophones, and obscure references, is particularly effective in eliciting laughter Structural ambiguity involves shifts in parts of speech and word order to enhance humor, while phonological jokes leverage the sounds of words and phrases Pragmatic ambiguity arises from violations of conversational principles, and mixed ambiguity encompasses various types Notably, lexical ambiguity stands out as the most prevalent source of humor among these categories.
Summary
Chapter 2 examines linguistic ambiguity in English and Vietnamese jokes, establishing a theoretical framework for the research questions of this study It defines key concepts, including verbal humor in both languages, explores lexical ambiguity, and identifies the types of ambiguity that contribute to the humor in verbal jokes across English and Vietnamese.
METHODOLOGY
Research design
This study aims to explore the role of lexical ambiguity in generating laughter in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes It will first examine the various types of lexical ambiguity present in these jokes, followed by a classification of these ambiguities in both languages Ultimately, the research seeks to analyze how lexical ambiguity contributes to the humor found in verbal jokes across English and Vietnamese.
This study employs a contrastive method to effectively analyze lexical ambiguity across two languages By utilizing both contrastive and comparative approaches, the research highlights the similarities and differences in lexical ambiguity types Additionally, the descriptive method is used to identify and describe the factors contributing to lexical ambiguity Overall, the analysis is structured into two dynamic and focused stages.
Stage 1: During the process of analysis, the details from four English joke books and four Vietnamese ones are described and analyzed in terms lexical ambiguity Then, techniques such as comparison and contrasting analysis are applied to find out a general picture of the variants and synonymies in the types of lexical ambiguity in both languages
Stage 2: Based on the results from stage 1, the author carefully analyzes to find out the differences between English and Vietnamese in the field of the study and compares the elements to recognize the similarities The sources for analysis are materials and references written by Vietnamese authors as well as some bilingual
29 reference joke books available in Vietnam This will help to make clear the similarities and the differences between the types of lexical ambiguity in English and Vietnamese.
Research questions
In order to find out the findings, this research tried to seek the answer of the following questions:
1 What are the similarities in the types of lexical ambiguity used to create funniness in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes?
2 What are the differences in the types of lexical ambiguity used to create funniness in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes?
Data collection
This study aims to analyze lexical ambiguity within a specific context by comparing English and Vietnamese verbal jokes It focuses exclusively on a selected set of jokes, drawing from four English and four Vietnamese joke books, rather than addressing verbal jokes in a broader sense.
The article discusses four English-Vietnamese joke books that enhance cross-cultural humor understanding These include: (1) "A Collection of English-Vietnamese Jokes" (2015), (2) "100 English-Vietnamese Jokes Sample" (2015), (3) "A Collection of English and Vietnamese Jokes" (2014), and (4) "127 English-Vietnamese Jokes" (2014), all published by Hanoi National University Press or Youth Press Written in English and translated into Vietnamese, these books are selected for their ability to help readers and listeners grasp the jokes' meanings effectively.
Four Vietnamese verbal joke books named: (1) Một trăm lẻ chín mẫu truyện tiếu lâm Việt Nam (A hundred and nine Vietnamese jokes) collected by
In recent years, several notable publications have emerged in the realm of humor, including "Tri Thuc Viet Group" released by Hong Duc Press in 2016, "101 Jokes for Students" published by Culture and Information Press in 2014, "101 Jobs Jokes" from Ha Noi Encyclopaedic Press in 2013, and "99 Best Jokes to Release Stress" published by Culture and Information Press in 2012.
The number of the verbal jokes in the English and Vietnamese book is presented in Table 3.1
Table 3.1.The number of jokes contain in English and Vietnamese books
Number of verbal jokes in English books
Number of verbal jokes in Vietnamese books
The selected books for this study were chosen for two key reasons: they are published by reputable Vietnamese Press and were released within the last decade (2010-2015), ensuring that the stories are current and relevant.
A total of 479 English jokes and 410 Vietnamese jokes were analyzed from eight books From this collection, forty verbal jokes were selected for examination, comprising 20 jokes in English and 20 in Vietnamese These jokes were specifically chosen for their lexical ambiguity, which is a key factor in eliciting laughter.
31 multiple interpretations of word The lexical ambiguity in these selected jokes was expressed using puns, wordplay to create satire and irony They were quite short (70 to 100 words in length)
To ensure reliability, the author gathered data by documenting jokes that featured lexical ambiguity The study categorized the forty collected jokes into five distinct types: polysemy, homonyms, homophones, obscure references, and specific versus general meanings.
This study utilizes a carefully curated selection of data from eight joke books, focusing on 20 English jokes and 20 Vietnamese jokes that exemplify lexical ambiguity These 40 jokes were specifically chosen for their ability to meet the criteria of lexical ambiguity, while other jokes in the books, although humorous, do not possess this quality The humor in those other jokes arises from violations of implicature maxims, blending ambiguity with pragmatic elements to create comedic effects.
Data analysis
Lexical ambiguity occurs when a word or sentence possesses multiple meanings, leading to confusion for readers or listeners This phenomenon is often utilized in jokes to elicit laughter In a study analyzing this aspect, two English teachers, including the researcher and an invited colleague, independently examined forty jokes to identify the similarities and differences in lexical ambiguity between Vietnamese and English humor.
Step 1: The twenty Vietnamese verbal jokes were read first and the twenty English ones later The Vietnamese verbal jokes were read first just because they were easier for the researcher to understand In this step, the purpose was for the researcher to have an impression of the jokes being expressed in the stories Step 2: Based on the materials collected ambiguous jokes were subdivided into categories based on Oaks and Hurford viewpoint As Oaks, (1994: 378) defined lexical ambiguity as conveyed by “a word with more than one possible meaning in a context” In Vietnamese ambiguous verbal jokes were chosen
32 based on the point of view Nguyen Duc Dan (1992) “Ambiguity is a word or a sentence has more than two intepretations.”
Step 3: Based on the data collected, the readers sought for words that had more than one meaning in a context, especially those with same class but with different meanings (e.g the word bank is a noun that has two different meanings: a river bank and a place for keeping money) which had same-class Thus, each type of lexical ambiguity was illustrated with specific jokes in English and Vietnamese equivalent In the analysis, the bold and italic are used to indicate ambiguity words
Step 4: To find out other factors caused funniness between the two languages the 40 English and Vietnamese jokes were analyzed based on other features such as topics, culture, politics, education, etc
To ensure the reliability and validity of the data, two independent readers analyzed the content, focusing on lexical ambiguity They participated in a workshop where they learned about Oak's and Hurford's definitions of lexical ambiguity Together, they examined jokes from four books in two languages, identifying and highlighting the various types of lexical ambiguity present.
In the initial stage, they emphasized words with ambiguous meanings that led to lexical ambiguity, including polysemy, homonyms, and homophones, as well as obscure references and the distinction between specific and general word meanings.
In the second stage, they worked on their own, reading and highlighting lexical ambiguity and the topics used in the two languages
In the third stage, the raters compared and discussed all highlighted words, focusing on the types of lexical ambiguity present in both languages, ultimately reaching a consensus.
Results showed that both raters found slightly different findings, but after closed discussion, they reached an agreement on:
(1) The numbers of the jokes that contained lexical ambiguity causing laughter (20 English and 20 English stories were found)
(2) The types of lexical ambiguity (polysemy, homonyms, homophones, obscure references, specific and general meaning.)
A total of 479 English and 410 Vietnamese verbal jokes were evaluated from four joke books, leading to the selection of 20 English and 20 Vietnamese jokes for a comparative analysis of lexical ambiguity For a comprehensive list of the collected jokes, please refer to Appendix 1 and 2.
Summary
According to Tuckman (1999), research is defined as a systematic effort to answer questions In this study, a structured approach has been employed for both data collection and analysis to effectively address the research questions.
This chapter outlines the rationale behind selecting descriptive approaches for the study, detailing the processes of data collection, analysis, and reporting The research utilized two corpora of verbal jokes in English and Vietnamese, sourced from four joke books in each language The analytical methods were primarily based on existing literature in both languages, focusing on a comparative analysis to identify similarities and differences in the types of ambiguity that contribute to humor in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes.
The next chapter outlines in detail the findings with respect to the types of lexical ambiguity in verbal jokes from the two languages
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSON
Similarities in types of lexical ambiguity
Both English and Vietnamese verbal jokes share roughly the same humor mechanism based on creating five types of lexical ambiguity
Polysemy, as defined by Hurford (2001), refers to a word having two or more closely related meanings In a study comparing twenty English and twenty Vietnamese verbal jokes, polysemy emerged as the primary source of ambiguity, contributing significantly to humor in both languages The analysis revealed that polysemy was the dominant feature in the jokes, with six examples identified in each language, accounting for 15% of the total jokes collected This similarity can be attributed to the shared tendency in both English and Vietnamese to utilize polysemy as an effective linguistic tool for humor.
35 language Apart from that, it was easy to make the hearers misunderstand and laugh when using polysemy in their jokes
Table 4.1 The similarity in using polysemy in English vs Vietnamese verbal jokes
Types of lexical ambiguity in
English verbal jokes Vietnamese verbal jokes
Number of jokes Percent Number of jokes Percent
The following English and Vietnamese verbal jokes illustrated the same way polysemy was used in their jokes
One day an English grammar teacher was looking ill
A student asked, “What’s the matter?”
“ Tense ” , answered the teacher, describing how he felt
The student paused then continued, “What was the matter? What has been the matter? What might have been the matter ?”
In the context of English-Vietnamese jokes, the word "tense" serves as a source of ambiguity, showcasing its polysemous nature It carries two distinct meanings: one as a verb form indicating the timing of an action, and the other as an adjective describing a person's nervous state This duality leads to a humorous misunderstanding between a teacher and a student, where the teacher expresses his feelings while the student misinterprets the request as a call for tense exercises Such clever wordplay is a hallmark of Vietnamese humor, highlighting the comedic potential of language nuances.
Nhìn cô gái còn trẻ quá, bà hiệu trưởng trường mầm non ân cần bảo:
Trường có chỉ tiêu nhậncô nuôi dạy trẻ, nhưng đây là trường điểm, cần giáo viên kinh nghiệm Cô đã cókinh nghiệmvề trẻ conchưa ?
Thưa bà, rất nhiều năm ạ Trước kia tôi đã từng là trẻ con nên không có gì là lạ.
Looking at the young girl, the principle of a kindergarten kindly said:
Our school aims to hire high-quality preschool teachers, emphasizing the importance of experience It's essential that these educators have a strong background in working with children One candidate shared their extensive experience, noting that having been a child themselves allows them to connect with students effectively.
The term "Kinh nghiệm" in this narrative is polysemous, having two distinct meanings in Vietnamese: "senior" and "experience." The principle highlights practical contact and observation with children or seniors encountered by the protagonist during her time as a daycare teacher However, the protagonist misinterprets her childhood experiences, leading to humor as readers can relate to their own childhoods It's important to note that possessing childhood experiences does not equate to being a senior in teaching.
Both jokes (1) and (2) effectively utilize polysemy to create misunderstandings, generating humor for the audience.
Người bố đi vắng viết thư để lại bảo con trao cho khách Chẳng may con làm cháy mất thư khách đến:
Khách sựng người: Mất bao giờ?
A man left for an extended period, entrusting his son with a letter to deliver to a guest Unfortunately, the boy accidentally burned the letter When the guest arrived, he inquired about the letter's whereabouts.
In Vietnamese, the word "mat" is polysemous, carrying two distinct meanings: "lost or no longer belonging to someone" and "to die or pass away." This duality creates a humorous misunderstanding in a story where a child refers to a paper given by his father as lost, leading listeners to mistakenly believe he meant his friend had passed away, resulting in laughter Additionally, this joke highlights a cultural nuance in Vietnam, where the term "mat" is often used instead of "chet" to refer to death Such wordplay is also prevalent in English humor, illustrating the universal nature of linguistic misunderstandings.
(4) Here are the plenty of tickets on the black market
In a tense moment before the crucial football match, a player confided in his wife, expressing the weight of the game: "This is the decisive match If we don't triumph over team 'A', we'll forfeit our chance to compete in the final."
His wife consoled him: “well there are plenty of tickets on the black market They are only a bit more expensive Let me help you.”
(A collection of English-Vietnamese jokes) The word “ ticket ” in this story is ambiguous The first interpretation of
“ticket” means “ a piece of paper that allows people to enter a particular place such as a bus, a train, a match ” The second interpretation of “ticket” means
The phrase "the right or the chance to election competition in a match" led to a humorous misunderstanding between a husband and wife The husband referred to his team's opportunity to secure a ticket for the final match, while his wife, unfamiliar with football terminology, interpreted "ticket" as the entry pass for spectators This playful confusion added a comedic element to their conversation.
The booking clerk at a small station warned a villager:
“You’ll have to change before you get to London”
The man, unused to traveling by train, mused:
“Goodness me, And I’ve only got the clothes I am wearing.”
(127 English- Vietnamese jokes) The word “ change ” is lexical ambiguity The first meaning of the word
The term "change" can mean both "to transfer from one train to another" and "to change clothes." In a humorous misunderstanding, a booking clerk informed a man he needed to transfer trains, but the man interpreted it as needing to change his clothes This play on the dual meanings of "change" serves as the basis for the joke's humor Similarly, a Vietnamese joke also employs polysemy to create a comedic effect.
Tại một trường học, việc học tin học yêu cầu sử dụng hệ điều hành Windows, do đó cần có chuột máy tính Để đáp ứng nhu cầu này, nhà trường đã đề nghị cấp kinh phí để mua 100 chuột máy tính Chẳng bao lâu sau, nhà trường nhận được công văn phản hồi về đề nghị này.
“Do kinh phí có hạn, trước tiên hãy mua một đôi chuộ t , sau đó nuôi cho nó sinh sản dần.”
In an informatics class at a certain school, students are required to use a computer mouse to operate Windows effectively To address this need, the school secured funding to purchase 100 computer mice, and shortly thereafter, they received an official notification regarding the order.
“Due to limited funding, first, buy a pair of mouse then, raise it for breeding.”
The Vietnamese word "chuột" is polysemous, having two distinct meanings: it refers to both a "mouse" as an animal and a "mouse" as a computer tool In a humorous context, an official playfully combined these meanings, leading to laughter among the audience as they appreciated the clever wordplay.
Both languages utilize polysemy to craft humor, although they produce distinct humorous situations Jokes (3) and (4) exemplify a unique form of wordplay that relies on figurative meanings for comedic effect Additionally, these jokes offer insights into the cultural nuances embedded within each language In contrast, the humor found in jokes (5) and (6) stems from the theme of deception, highlighting different comedic approaches in both languages.
Homonyms are a form of lexical ambiguity where words share the same spelling but have different meanings and pronunciations, often leading to humorous interpretations in different languages This study analyzed forty jokes, revealing that 20% of the jokes in English utilized homonyms, while 25% of the jokes in Vietnamese did the same Both languages effectively employed homonyms as a source of humor.
Table 4.2 The similarity in using homonyms in English vs Vietnamese verbal jokes
Types of lexical ambiguity in
English verbal jokes Vietnamese verbal jokes
Number of jokes Percent Number of jokes Percent
The verbal jokes collected below show the similarity in terms of homonyms between the two languages
The mother talked with his son she didn’t want to hear he used bad words
He replied “but mommy even Shakespeare used them
She replied she wasn’t allow her son to play with Shakespeare any more
Differences in types of lexical ambiguity
After investigating the similarities in types of ambiguity, the researcher draws out some differences between lexical ambiguity in English and Vietnamese verbal jokes
The analysis reveals that Vietnamese jokes exhibit a higher prevalence of polysemy, accounting for 10% (2 verbal jokes) compared to 5% (1 verbal joke) in English Additionally, Vietnamese humor often employs words with identical spelling and related meanings to evoke laughter In terms of humor creation, Vietnamese jokes display a distinct approach, where characters are portrayed as odd or foolish, while English verbal jokes derive their humor from irrelevant statements made by the characters.
Table 4.6 The difference in using polysemy in English vs Vietnamese verbal jokes
Types of lexical ambiguity in
English verbal jokes Vietnamese verbal jokes
Number of jokes Percent Number of jokes Percent
The following English and Vietnamese jokes collected illustrate the difference in terms of polysemy between the two languages
(1) A little girl was playing outside the door
A man came by and asked: I wonder if I can see your mother, little girl Is she engaged?
The little girl: Engaged ? She is married
(127 English and Vietnamese joke samples)
The term "engaged" is polysemous, with one meaning being "busy" and another signifying "having agreed to marry." In a humorous scenario, a young girl misinterprets the question about her mother’s availability, understanding "engaged" solely in the context of marriage rather than being busy This misunderstanding highlights the ambiguity that can arise when the speaker and listener interpret words differently Readers with a strong grasp of English can appreciate the humor in this situation, recognizing the clever use of the word's multiple meanings.
Trên tàu, anh lính trẻ dựa vào cô gái đẹp, ngủ Tàu lắc, anh ta bật dậy Cô gái hỏi:
“Sao anh cứ dựa vào tôi thế?”
“Thì cô bảo, bộ đội chẳng dựa vào dân thì dựa vào ai?”
On the train, the young soldier relied on the beautiful girl, sleeping The train shook, he waked up
The girl asked: “Why did you reply to me?”
“You said, the soldier did not rely on the people rely on whom?”
The phrase “dựa vào dân” is a polysemous expression in Vietnamese, meaning both “rely on people” and “depend on people,” which adds layers of ambiguity and humor to the joke In the story, a girl questions a soldier about his reliance on her, to which he innocently replies that soldiers must depend on the people This clever wordplay highlights the irony of individuals who pretend to be innocent while exploiting others for their own benefit To fully appreciate the humor, listeners must grasp the dual meanings embedded in the phrase.
56 understand Vietnamese culture people praise the relationship between soldiers and the public
The differences between English and Vietnamese jokes lie in their sources of humor English jokes often derive their humor from the clever use of polysemy, appealing to readers with a high level of English proficiency who can appreciate the nuances in the punchline In contrast, Vietnamese jokes typically utilize idioms that celebrate the bond between soldiers and the masses, making them humorous to those well-versed in Vietnamese culture.
Tóc Đinh bàn về tình yêu:
“Theo cậu, có khi nào hai người rung động cùng một lúc không?”
Tóc Vàng Hoe: “có chứ cả triệu người cùng rung động cùng một lúc nữa là” Tóc Đinh: “làm gì có chuyện đó?”
Tóc Vàng Hoe: “sao lại không! Thế cậu không xem tivi thông báo về những tin động đất à?”
Boy and girl discuss love: “Do you think two people will have the same vibration?”
Girl: “There are millions of people who vibrate at the same time.”
Boy: “What’s wrong with that?”
Girl: “Why not! You do not watch television announce about the earthquakes.”
In this joke, the word “rung” is polysemy It has two meanings The first meaning is “to fall in love with someone” The second meaning is “the vibration
In Vietnamese culture, humor often involves clever wordplay, as illustrated by a joke where a boy's declaration of love is met with a girl's feigned misunderstanding When the boy mentions "57 of the earthquakes," he implies a deeper meaning, but the girl humorously interprets it as "vibrate of the earthquakes." This playful exchange highlights the cultural nuances of romance and rejection in Vietnam, where a girl may pretend to misinterpret a boy's feelings to gracefully decline his advances.
The study reveals that English verbal jokes predominantly utilize lexical ambiguity, significantly more than their Vietnamese counterparts Out of twenty English jokes analyzed, only two employed homonyms, accounting for 10%, while Vietnamese jokes featured just one homonym, or 5% Both languages leverage homonyms to create misunderstandings that result in humorous exchanges; however, they differ in their comedic approaches Vietnamese humor often incorporates idioms or regional dialects, whereas English jokes typically rely on formal or less common vocabulary to elicit laughter.
Table 4.7 The difference in using homonyms in English vs Vietnamese verbal jokes
Types of lexical ambiguity in
English verbal jokes Vietnamese verbal jokes
Number of jokes Percent Number of jokes Percent
The verbal jokes collected below show the similarity in terms of homonyms between the two languages
(1) How are you on speed?
Head of Business College: “In teaching shorthand and typewriting, we are strong for accuracy.”
Inquirer: “How are you on speed ?”
Head of Business College: “Well of last years class, six married their employers within six months.”
This collection of English-Vietnamese jokes highlights the ambiguity of the word "speed," which serves as a homonym in the narrative The term "speed" can refer to the quickness of movement or operation, but in this story, it leads to a humorous misunderstanding The inquirer is curious about the typing speed of employees, while the head of the Business College interprets "speed" as the rapid pace at which employees are marrying each other This miscommunication between the speakers creates a comedic effect, showcasing the humor in language nuances.
(2) Too big to be lost
The schoolmistress was giving her class of young pupil a test in a recent natural history lesson
“Now, Bobby”, she said, “tell me where the elephant is found”
The boy hesitated for a moment then his face lit up:
“The elephant, teacher he said, is such a large animal that it is scary ever lost”
The ambiguity of the word "found" leads to a humorous misunderstanding in a classroom setting When the teacher asked students about where the elephant was discovered, they misinterpreted the question as asking where the elephant was lost This confusion resulted in a comical response regarding the shape of the elephant The humor arises from the teacher's unclear question, which ultimately creates an amusing situation for the listeners.
Sau khi khám bệnh xong cho một đứa bé bác sỹ nói với người nhà bệnh nhân: b ệ nh tình cháu nặng lắm!
Người bố sửng sốt kêu lên: cháu mới bảy tuổi, đã biết yêu đương gì đâu mà mắc “ b ệ nh tình ” hở bác sỹ
After the diagnosis for a boy, the doctor told the patient's family: the baby illness is heavily!
Father: (shocked) my son is only seven years old he hasn’t known what lovesick is doctor
The term "benh tinh" is ambiguous, as it can mean both "his son's illness" and "lovesick." A humorous moment arises when a doctor discusses the son's serious illness, but the father misinterprets the diagnosis as his son being "lovesick." This leads to a surprised reaction from the father, who points out that his son is only seven years old and couldn't possibly be lovesick.
In the provided jokes, humor arises from the clever use of homonyms, where words share the same spelling and part of speech, particularly verbs, to create ambiguity and amusement In contrast, Vietnamese humor often employs nouns to evoke laughter, while English jokes typically rely on verbs to achieve the same effect This distinction highlights the different linguistic approaches to humor in Vietnamese and English cultures.
Vietnamese jokes utilize homophones more frequently than English jokes, with 10% (2 jokes) compared to 5% (1 joke) in English This highlights the popularity of this type of ambiguity in Vietnamese humor Additionally, both languages employ distinct methods to create humorous situations, with Vietnamese humor often serving as a means of criticism.
60 individuals or groups of people who have bad habits while English jokes focus on irony the bad things happen in daily life
Table 4.8 The difference in using homophones in English vs Vietnamese verbal jokes
Types of lexical ambiguity in
English verbal jokes Vietnamese verbal jokes
Number of jokes Percent Number of jokes Percent
Homophones can be exemplified through the English and Vietnamese jokes below
Mỏ khoét: Ông hứa sẽchiêu đãi tôi một bữa kem ký nữa mà
Mỏ nhọn: thì biết thế Nhưng tôi sợ ký sổ mãi, chủ hàng kem không ký nữa đâu
Girl: you promised to treat me a glass of ice cream
Boy: I know that But I'm afraid to sign debt forever, the cream vender does not sign debt anymore
The terms "ky" and "kg" create ambiguity in Vietnamese, as they are pronounced identically "Ky" translates to "signature" or "symbol," while "kg" refers to "kilogram." This dual meaning can lead to confusion in communication.
“signature” misunderstood with the word “kilogram.” Therefore, to understand this joke, the readers or listeners have to understand Vietnamese cuisine people
In a humorous exchange, a girl requests ice cream from a boy, who refuses her because he owes money to the ice cream vendor, leading to a comical twist The punchline highlights the boy's predicament, making the story amusing and relatable.
(2) Món mới Áo dài: trưa ông ghé nhà tôi ăn canh cá s ấ u nhé ngon lắm
Mày râu: (ngạc nhiên) ừ cá sấu kiếm ởđâu ra mà tài thế Áo dài: có gì đâu Cá thì trong ao còn sấu ởđầy trên cây kia kìa
Girl: come to my house to eat fish with dracotomelon this afternoon
Boy: (surprised) where did the crocodile find out
Girl: nothing The fish was still in the pond and dracotomelon was on the tree
The phrase "Canh cá sấu" in Vietnamese is ambiguous, as it can mean both "crocodile soup" and "fish cooked with dracontomelon," a popular dish in Northern Vietnam In a humorous exchange, a girl invites a boy to enjoy fish cooked with dracontomelon, leading to the boy teasing her about where she might find a crocodile for soup This playful wordplay highlights the humor in Vietnamese jokes, stemming from the shift in meaning and conceptual misunderstandings.
(3) “A woman was driving on her car on a narrow road She was knitting at the same time, so she was driving very slowly
A man came up from behind and he wanted to pass her He opened the window and yelled, “ Pull over! Pull over !”
The lady yelled back, “No, a sweater !”
In this humorous exchange, a man attempted to pass a woman by saying "pull over," which is a homophone Misunderstanding his intent, the woman playfully responded with "a sweater," leading to laughter from those who overheard the interaction.
Summary
This chapter addresses the research questions by identifying five types of lexical ambiguity used in verbal jokes across two languages to generate humor Both English and Vietnamese employ polysemy, homonyms, obscure references, and specific versus general meanings to create comedic effects Notably, Vietnamese jokes feature a higher frequency of homonyms, while English jokes utilize more homophones The next chapter will summarize these findings, discuss the study's limitations, and provide pedagogical implications and recommendations for future research.