Abstract
The present study of ambiguity at the syntactic level in the English language focuses on its resourceful applications in the creation of jokes. Such ambiguity is therefore regarded as something to be exploited in language rather than avoided. One important conclusion will be that British humour should not be regarded as "strange" by speakers of other languages, who can only access to it by means of poor, or should we say, difficult translations, since not all types of ambiguity are translatable across languages. The study is divided into three sections, dealing firstly with bracketing of constituents and labelling of categories and functions; and secondly, focusing on transformational relationships, whereby two underlying structures are related to one surface structure. The illustrations are real jokes collected from a variety of popular joke books.
Highlights
The present study of ambiguity at the syntactic level in the English language focuses on its resourceful applications in the creation of jokes
The study is divided into three sections, dealing firstly with bracketing of constituents and labelling of categories and functions; and secondly, focusing on transformational relationships, whereby two underlying structures are related to one surface structure
A characteristic of the English language which is highly productive in terms of humour is the question of attachment of a given element, in the context of the verb phrase, understood here as the whole predícate or "extended verb phrase," where different categories of phrases may be concerned.[1]
Summary
The PP is an adjunct, which means it does not belong to the valency of the verb, so that the verb is divalent, with an optional element added; under the second one, the PP is included in the previous NP, the verb is divalent; under the third, the PP is a prepositional complement, belonging to the valency of the verb, classing this as trivalent. Ambiguity may arise between any of the three structures, the examples which I have found in humour contrast only two of the three interpretations: that between I and n (i.e. regarding the attachment of the PP to the preceding NP or not, being optional), and between i and ni (i.e. regarding the PP as an adjunct or a complement), the former being the most popular one by far. The waiter obviously means II, and the customer makes the joke by taking it as I.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
