The semiology of humour: developing the “countersign” model

A semiology-based approach to understanding humour is being developed and an interpretation of humour as a “counter-sign,” a two-faced sign within the space of conventionality, is put forward. The range of core attributes to interpret the phenomenon of humour is determined. The concepts of the “fram...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of humour research 2021, Vol.9 (2), p.7-25
Main Authors: Borodenko, Marina, PETROVSKY, Vadim A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied Linguistics
Communication studies
Descriptive linguistics
Language and Literature Studies
Semiotics / Semiology
Theoretical Linguistics
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:A semiology-based approach to understanding humour is being developed and an interpretation of humour as a “counter-sign,” a two-faced sign within the space of conventionality, is put forward. The range of core attributes to interpret the phenomenon of humour is determined. The concepts of the “frame of significance,” “conventionality,” and “meta-communicative marker of conventionality” are elaborated. The general definition of humour is being formulated as a “sign-based identification of non-identifiable signs within the space of conventionality.” An outline is put forward to enable the formal distinction between satire, humour, irony, and jokes. The following questions are addressed: “Why does that which is funny cease to be so if it is repeated many times?”, “Why can the terrifying become funny when recollected?” “Why is the state of bewilderment not always funny but returning to it in one’s thoughts triggers laughter?”
ISSN:2307-700X
2307-700X
DOI:10.7592/EJHR2021.9.2.553