INTRODUCTION
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This thesis consists of five chapters structured as follows:
Chapter 1 serves as the introduction to the study, detailing its rationale, aims, objectives, and research questions while defining the scope of the research Additionally, this chapter outlines the organization of the study, providing a clear framework for the content that follows.
Chapter 2, Literature review and Theoretical background, concerns with previous research and the theoretical background of the study on the concepts of humor devices.
Chapter 3, Research design and Methodology, presents the research design and methodology, the procedure of the study, method of data collection and analysis for the study to be carried out.
Chapter 4, Findings and Discussions, concentrates on analyzing elements of humor from English speeches in TED.
Chapter 5, Conclusions and Implications, summarizes the main results of the whole work Some implications and suggestions for further research are also discussed in this chapter.
Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
Historically, numerous studies have explored the concept of humor, conducted by notable figures including scholars, humorists, philosophers, and psychologists such as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Darwin, Freud, Eastman, Pittington, Koestler, and Midess.
One of the most notable theories of humor is the superiority theory, which aims to encompass all humor theories Adrian Bardon asserts that this theory is prevalent in comedies and everyday life, as it relies on the concept of ridicule, positioning the object of amusement as inferior while elevating ourselves as superior (2005) According to Raskin (1985), the essence of humor lies in mockery, ridicule, and laughter directed at the foolish actions of others.
Thomas Hobbes, a key figure in humor theory, posits that humor arises from a feeling of "sudden glory." While Plato and Aristotle laid the groundwork for this perspective, Hobbes provides a foundational statement that emphasizes the aggressive nature of humor, highlighting its complex emotional roots.
Plato suggests that humor serves as a guilty pleasure for those without power, while Hobbes posits that laughter often arises from the misfortunes of others, highlighting the root of humorous situations Aristotle further asserts that humor is generated from a sense of superiority over those perceived as unattractive Supporting this perspective, Alexander Bain (1818 - 1903) emphasizes that humor is intrinsically linked to the degradation of others, expanding upon Hobbes' theories in two significant ways.
The superiority theory explains why we find humor in jokes that highlight someone's foolishness, as it evokes a sense of enjoyment from feeling superior to the subject of the joke This theory emphasizes the emotional response associated with comic amusement, suggesting that laughter often stems from recognizing the absurdity of others' situations.
Superiority theories suggest that we often laugh at others due to their failures, weaknesses, or minor misfortunes, highlighting the humor that arises from recognizing our own perceived superiority.
The incongruity theory, also known as the incongruity-resolution theory, is a prominent framework for understanding laughter, with notable contributions from scholars like Immanuel Kant, Soren Kierkegaard, and Aristotle Kant, in particular, posits that humor arises from the abrupt shift of a heightened expectation into nothingness This theory suggests that we find humor in surprising situations that defy our expectations, often involving elements that feel out of place Avro Krikmann notes that some researchers refer to this as the contradiction theory, which encompasses various forms of humor, including verbal punchlines, slapstick, and pranks like those on April Fool's Day Ultimately, we laugh at the unexpected, as our anticipations are often subverted, aligning with Kant's assertion that “the comic is the sudden transformation of a strained expectation into nothing.”
A humorous situation occurs when two or more real objects are interpreted through a single concept, leading to a one-sided perspective that transfers the identity of that concept onto the objects involved (Schopenhauer, 1970).
According to Alison Ross, humor arises from the clash between expectations and reality in a joke, leading listeners to laugh when they recognize the inappropriate elements within an otherwise appropriate context.
Nguyen Duc Dan, a Vietnamese humorist, contributes to humor theory by outlining three essential stages: opening, development, and closing In the opening stage, events unfold smoothly, leading to an expected outcome (result A) However, in the development stage, the narrative takes an unexpected turn, resulting in a surprising conclusion (result B) This theory emphasizes the element of surprise as the key factor in creating humor.
Raskin (1985) enhanced this theory to make the laughter “an affection arising from sudden transformation of a strained expectation into nothing”
In summary, incongruity theories suggest that humor arises from the juxtaposition of the appropriate and the inappropriate This theory highlights the cognitive aspect of humor, focusing on our capacity to recognize and comprehend incongruous patterns within various situations.
Relief theory, primarily associated with Sigmund Freud and Herbert Spencer, posits that humor serves as a mechanism for releasing tension and promoting relaxation Freud, a key proponent of this theory, emphasizes that humor transcends surface-level enjoyment, sharing similarities with dreams in their connection to the unconscious mind He argues that both jokes and dreams allow individuals to bypass societal censors, highlighting humor's role in alleviating stress across various contexts.
Because humor often calls conventional social requirements into question, it may be considered as affording us relief from the restraint of conforming to those requirements.
The relief theory of humor presents two interpretations: the strong version posits that the release of excessive energy is the primary cause of all humorous situations, while the weak version contends that laughter typically arises from a release of tension or energy in specific contexts.
Spencer makes a contribution on a theory of laughter that closely involves his
"hydraulic" theory of nervous energy, whereby excitement and mental agitation produces energy that "must expend itself in some way or another." He concludes that
"nervous excitation always tends to beget muscular motion."
In summary, individuals experiencing tension may laugh when that tension is unexpectedly lifted This laughter stems not from a sense of superiority or incongruity, but rather from a profound feeling of relief.
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 6 2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Public speeches encompass a wide range of presentations given in front of an audience, including university lectures, religious sermons, speeches by leaders at meetings or conferences, and inaugural addresses by elected officials.
Public speeches share characteristics with spoken language, exhibiting similarities to daily conversations in their goals of reforming, following, and advertising Speakers must organize their ideas persuasively, tailor their messages to the audience, and respond to listener feedback However, public speeches differ significantly from daily conversations, as they are more structured and formal The speaker's time is limited, necessitating thorough preparation, while distracting behaviors and verbal habits should be minimized in public speaking.
Public speeches, while delivered orally, are typically meticulously prepared in writing for formal events, reflecting the qualities of written language They tend to exhibit a polite tone and a formal style, utilizing abstract words, noun phrases, complete sentences, complex sentence structures, parallelism, and various rhetorical devices to enhance their effectiveness.
Public speeches are carefully structured to provide clarity and engagement for the audience Speakers often employ rhetorical devices and vivid imagery to enhance their message Directly addressing the audience and using inclusive language, such as the first person plural, helps to inspire action and create a connection between the speaker and listeners.
Basically, the presentation is given live in front of people Public speeches can provide a wide variety of different topics.
Linguists are increasingly drawn to the study of humor, exploring its origins as a fascinating subject Various scholars have investigated the nature of humor, with Israeli researcher Avner Ziv providing a notable example to illustrate its complexities.
Humor is a social message designed to evoke laughter or smiles, serving various functions and employing specific techniques It raises questions about its purpose, transmission, communication, and context While some elements of humor are universal, many are shaped by cultural influences.
Humor is often defined as the ability to recognize, express, or appreciate the amusing and absurd aspects of life According to Dr Jarvis, humor can be seen as a playful way of conveying painful truths, as well as a tragedy viewed from a distance in time and space.
Humor plays a vital role in social interactions, serving various purposes such as fostering friendliness and politeness (Brown and Levinson, 1987) and mitigating threats and criticism (Holmes, 1998) According to Veatch (1998), humor can be understood as a psychological state that often leads to laughter Furthermore, Wei Liu (2010) emphasizes that humor functions as a form of communication.
Humor, whether expressed through writing or speech, encompasses various forms such as teasing, jokes, wit, satire, cartoons, and puns, all aimed at eliciting amusement, whether through laughter or smiles Defining humor is challenging due to its intricate nature, as it involves complex neuro-physiological processes that contribute to our understanding of this mental phenomenon.
(laughter)” (Salvator Attardo & Victor Raskin, 1994, p.17)
Incorporating humor into your speech is an effective strategy to engage your audience and alleviate public speaking anxiety, which is a common source of stress for many speakers (Miller, 2011; Hancock et al., 2010) Humor can significantly reduce anxiety levels, relieve stress, and transform negative thoughts (Sultanoff, 1994; Wooten, 1996; Rashidi et al., 2014) Ultimately, humor enhances the overall effectiveness of speeches, making it a valuable tool for any speaker.
According to Freud (1989), jokes and laughter allow individuals to express hidden emotions, and this dynamic is evident in English speeches where both speakers and listeners convey feelings through humor Mulholland (1994) asserts that humor, which evokes amusement, serves as a persuasive tool that enhances the speaker's credibility Furthermore, Welker (1977) notes that humor captures attention and alleviates tension, making it an effective communication strategy.
Humorists have explored the role of humor in public speaking, with Smyth (1974) advocating for speakers to incorporate humor to enhance their speeches Gruner (1985) supported this idea, suggesting that humor serves as an effective communication strategy for public speakers Further research by Gruner et al (1993) examined how audience laughter can trigger more laughter, positing that speakers who effectively use humor are often viewed more favorably in terms of their character, authoritativeness, and dynamism.
Bjorklund (1985) conducted a survey on the role of humor in a weekly public speaking club, highlighting that humor can enhance rapport with the audience and aid in persuasion Similarly, Deming (2001) proposed various strategies for speakers to boost learning, emphasizing the incorporation of humor in lecture presentations.
Henderson (2003) emphasized the importance of effective public speaking strategies for chemical engineers, advocating for the use of engaging communication tools such as contrast, humorous anecdotes, and self-deprecating humor Bippus (2007) discovered that the perceived effectiveness of political candidates' humor largely fluctuates based on whether the humor targets themselves or their rivals, the timing of the jokes, and the audience's perception of the candidate's use of humor to address serious issues or present alternative perspectives during debates.
Farmers participated in a presentation and media skills training aimed at alleviating their fear of public speaking, empowering them to effectively promote their businesses and agricultural practices The training emphasized the importance of incorporating humor into their presentations to engage audiences and enhance communication.