Functional and Linguistic Features of Humour in Economic Discourse

Abstract

The paper is concerned with functional and linguistic analysis of humour in economic discourse as an under-studied subject of investigation emerging mainly due to informalisation of speaking in writing practices taking place in the modern English communication scenarios. The authors explain the way functional linguistic approach can be instrumental in studying humour, provide background analysis of the theories on humour and offer a comprehensive review of the linguistic means used to generate humour in contemporary economic discourse, supplemented with a study of translation practices that can be applied in effectuating English-Russian translation of humorous utterances in view of their national and cultural specificity. The authors conclude that notwithstanding a growing tendency towards humorous handling of economic issues, economic discourse remains strictly institutional, meaning that understanding and correct interpretation of economic humour will still require appropriate background knowledge, which is what constitutes the economists’ group identity as members of a community of practice sharing language repertoires.