Understanding language through humor

Students often struggle to understand linguistic concepts through examples of language data provided in class or in texts. Presented with ambiguous information, students frequently respond that they do not 'get it'. The solution is to find an example of humour that relies on the targeted a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Dubinsky, Stanley, 1952-
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: Cambridge, UK New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011..
Table of Contents:
  • 1. Introduction; 2. Talking to Garfield: human and animal communication; 3. Did I hear that right? The sounds of language; 4. Twisted words: word structure and meaning; 5. Fitting words together: phrase structure and meaning; 6. Meaning one thing and saying another: indirect speech and conversational principles; 7. Fitting the pieces together: the structure of discourse; 8. 'Kids say the darndest things': children acquiring language; 9. Variety is the spice of life: language variation; 10. Cross-cultural gaffes: language and culture; 11. The language police: prescriptivism and standardization; 12. So long, and thanks for all the fish.