BS: funny haha or funny peculiar

Subject: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: GUEST,freda - occasional cultural amputee
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:56 AM

one evening round a barbeque with a bunch of afghans, i listened while they told jokes (in english), slapping their thighs and screaming with laughter. at each joke i waited for a punch line and smiled, wrinkling my forehead and trying to understand.

and ive noticed this happening on the cat here and there. we all say meeow, but in different tones. a few times i've found myself taking very seriously something happening on a thread, only to find out from a comment much later on that it was all mucking around. again, on a few occasions including twice in the last couple of days i've said something totally in humour, to find someone taking my comment as being literal. eek.

so in an attempt to start thinking about all the different varieties of humour, here is a site translating australian humour for the uninitiated (please disregard the vulgar drawing, a portrait of one of our former prime ministers)

antipodean humourum incomprehensum

history and philosophy of irony

straight faced irony

i would appreciate any other similar analyses or pointers to understanding incomprehensible humour dialects from other cultures.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: freda underhill
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:01 AM

ps - thoughts on history and philosophy of irony are the author's and not necessarily my own, its an englishman's take. will try and find something to balance it!

Subject: RE: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:18 AM

Scottish Humour There you go Fred!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: freda underhill
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:22 AM

hmmm, peculiar or ha ha?

more insights into the australian mind

Subject: RE: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: freda underhill
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:47 AM

thanks, Giok, and all for free on the web, too!

Subject: RE: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: Peace
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 01:16 AM

whorlpool.905host.net/files/canadian_humour_and_fun.htm

www.witchweb.net/immigration/humour.html

We tend to think people wearing jackets when it's only 15 below is strange--unless they're very young or very old, the people, not the jackets. We find that funny peculiar.

Folks tend to think we have no sense of humour. The only thing many people know about us is from Doug and Dave. That's a true representation, but we're often even funnier than that. Sometimes we break out in a smile. We're cafeful with that, though. Ever since a guy in Toronto did that and his face cracked. We didn't mind though, because he was an elected official--got elected because he couldn't find honest work. We wanted to keep him off the streets. That's funny haha in a low-key way, but only because most Canadians will recognize the truth in it.

Things like "If you don't believe in life after death, visit the Senate" will bring you a 'No shit' in most bars, and likely lead to someone buying you a beer, which we know tastes like horse piss, but we also know that horse piss doesn't have the bubbles, so we drink it.
We think that folks who arrive in Canada with skis on the roof of their cars should be sent to the nearest ski hill--even if it is July.
Experience is a better teacher than words.

Humour is also regional. For example, (this is about hockey) if someone in Edmonton says, "Hey, Calgary is only dressing four players tonight!", someone will always say,"Why?" Someone else will say, Because all the rest have learned to dress themselves." That's hilarious, but the laughter will always be accompanied with groans, usually from the Calgary fans. In one playoff game years back, a fellow went to the Coliseum in Edmonton. He was wearing a Montreal Canadian's shirt and a paper bag over his head. He actually cheered for Montreal. Montreal won that game, but the guy was given a round of applause by the fans from both sides. That's an example of funny haha.

Later.

BM

Subject: RE: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 01:38 AM

This will be a lot fo fun, freda, thanks!

You might also enjooy these old threads:

Colloquiallisms - Post 'em & define 'em!

Part Two

Part Three

Subject: RE: BS: funny haha or funny peculiar
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 06:31 AM

brucie's links


canadian humour and fun

canadian humour, canadian men bonding etc