Puns in English
Beldin
managed one of the most difficult things I've ever
done in English - I made a pun (intentional).
Do you realise how hard that is in a foreign language?
First of all I don't have quite as large a vocabulary
in English as I do in my native toungue (Danish).
Secondly English puns are slightly different from
Danish puns, so it's not just a question of linguistics.
I started learning English some 20 years or so ago, but
I am only now beginning to catch what constitutes a pun
in English - that might give you an indication of how I
feel about it.
And if any of you should happen to think "what's the
problem - puns are easy" - I'd like to see you make
a pun in a foreign language - I'd challenge any non-Danes
to make a pun in Danish that would make me laugh.
Just to get a better grasp of the English pun - could you
tell me whether the following constitute proper puns in
English:
Playing with one wording having more than one meaning -
e.g: If someone tells me he is an engine driver and I ask
him how long he _trained_ for that
Playing with some similarity between words - e.g. when
asked about my intentions I answer that they are _intense_.
Come up with more examples yourselves.
--
Beldin
Please do not reply directly.
Instead reply to (t.f...@mail.dk)
SpiritWolf
language, and he not only has never made an intentional pun but he
would not be able to describe one either.
The engine driver example I wouls say is a pun, and quite amusing.
The second one I would not consider a pun, but then that might just be
me...
In my opinion the ultimate goal of creating a pun is not to make
someone laugh, but rather is to make them groan...
SpiritWolf
On Thu, 27 Sep 2001 11:28:57 +0200, Beldin <Bel...@ValeOfAldur.alg>
wrote:
<snippy>
Itagne
> In my opinion the ultimate goal of creating a pun is not to make
> someone laugh, but rather is to make them groan...
All Hail Aquarius the Second!
Cheers,
Nick
--
There are drawbacks to taking cocaine, not least having to hang about with
pretentious media twats in trendy London bars.
-- "Cocaine", http://www.humdrum.demon.co.uk/teen.html
Jason A Williams / Khendon
>I might be a little full of myself, but yesterday I
>managed one of the most difficult things I've ever
>done in English - I made a pun (intentional).
If it helps, my favourite pun of the day:
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
:-)
Ooh, and get Aq to tell his "Shop window" joke :-)
--
"While you're technically correct, you're quite wrong" - John Levon
Jason A Williams / Khendon <ja...@khendon.org.uk>
Aiken
"Itagne" <n.g.b...@durham.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:ac6490c...@thales.frejol.org...
> On 27 Sep 2001, SpiritWolf <Spiri...@ozemail.SPAMLESS.com.au> wrote:
>
> > In my opinion the ultimate goal of creating a pun is not to make
> > someone laugh, but rather is to make them groan...
>
> All Hail Aquarius the Second!
>
Bless you. I heard there's a bit of a bug going round...
Aik :O)
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.265 / Virus Database: 137 - Release Date: 18/07/01
Belzedar
>On 27 Sep 2001, SpiritWolf <Spiri...@ozemail.SPAMLESS.com.au> wrote:
>
>> In my opinion the ultimate goal of creating a pun is not to make
>> someone laugh, but rather is to make them groan...
>
>All Hail Aquarius the Second!
Great. Not content with laughing at him, you want to drop sodding
great lumps of ice on him too?
Yours in total sincerity,
Belzedar
--
+--------------+ Belzedar. Burying the common hedgehog
| \\\\\ | under large mountians since 2001.
| \\\\\\\__o |
|__\\\\\\\x/___| http://www.aquarionics.com
Belzedar
>I might be a little full of myself, but yesterday I
>managed one of the most difficult things I've ever
>done in English - I made a pun (intentional).
>
>Do you realise how hard that is in a foreign language?
There is no such thing as a bad pun.
This is something that people who talk about puns[1] will disagree
with, and that People who are being punned at have a tendency to moan
at violently. The worst kind of thing is when those who cannot steal
puns from the local animal cage, steal perfectly good puns from other
people.
Those who can, zoo. Those who can't, leach.
But anyway. Wordplay is the soul of the english language, and as such
is occasional put to the boot...
I think I'll give up there.
For now..
Yours in total sincerity,
Belzedar
--
+--------------+ Belzedar. Burying the common hedgehog
| \\\\\ | under large mountians since 2001.
| \\\\\\\__o |
|__\\\\\\\x/___| http://www.aquarionics.com
[1] Pundits
Itagne
> >> In my opinion the ultimate goal of creating a pun is not to make
> >> someone laugh, but rather is to make them groan...
> >
> >All Hail Aquarius the Second!
>
> Great. Not content with laughing at him, you want to drop sodding
> great lumps of ice on him too?
That sounds to me like an excellent course of action.
Cheers,
Nick
--
Eternity's a terrible thought.
I mean, when's it all going to end?
-- Tom Stoppard, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead"
Aquarius
> On 27 Sep 2001, Belzedar <use...@aquarionics.com> wrote:
>
>> >> In my opinion the ultimate goal of creating a pun is not to make
>> >> someone laugh, but rather is to make them groan...
>> >
>> >All Hail Aquarius the Second!
>>
>> Great. Not content with laughing at him, you want to drop sodding
>> great lumps of ice on him too?
>
> That sounds to me like an excellent course of action.
Oi!
See if you get a Christmas card this year, Gladys.
Aq.
--
"He's a liar and a sneak and he has uncleanly habits"
-- Belgarath, DLoK
Aquarius
> There is no such thing as a bad pun.
The Gospel According to Aquarion. I'm with ya, brother.
> This is something that people who talk about puns[1]
> [1] Pundits
...and then they take punitive measures...
Aq.
--
"I'm a pepper drink,
I'm a vodka drink
I run when I see Aq :)" -- Sarabian, afe
Mark Erik Larsen
*major groan*
Aiken
Aik
--
http://homepages.tesco.net/~are
"Jason A Williams / Khendon" <jason+...@khendon.org.uk> wrote in message
news:slrn9r6hje.7l...@mrbusy.compsoc.man.ac.uk...
Aquarius
> news:slrn9r6hje.7l...@mrbusy.compsoc.man.ac.uk...
S'brilliant, that joke. :)
Aq -- tantalising
--
It's so hard to assert your masculinity to a retailer, and demand 'guy
colors', when you use arguments like "It won't go with my curtains."
http://www.kuro5hin.org/?op=comments&sid=2001/3/1/12625/19715&cid=10#10
Beeblebear
SpiritWolf <Spiri...@ozemail.SPAMLESS.com.au> wrote in message
news:pc36rt8ejtfeob4p8...@4ax.com...
> Congrats!! I have a 21yr old friend for whom English is his only
> language, and he not only has never made an intentional pun but he
> would not be able to describe one either.
>
> The engine driver example I wouls say is a pun, and quite amusing.
> The second one I would not consider a pun, but then that might just be
> me...
>
> In my opinion the ultimate goal of creating a pun is not to make
> someone laugh, but rather is to make them groan...
When I was in my final year in school (aka 6th yr where I was), I took
part in a 6th form revue. At the beginning I placed upon the stage a sign
which said Take Notice. Halfway through the revue, I took it.
The entire school (aka the audience) went dead silent for 5 seconds. Then
*everybody* groaned at once.
--
--
Chris Lyth (Cl...@ifis.org.uk)
Two wrongs are only the beginning.
Itagne
> Aq -- tantalising
Yeah, and we all know what happened to /him/ :)
Cheers,
Nick
--
Tara: Well, I go online sometimes but everyone's spelling is really bad. It's
depressing.
-- Jane Espenson, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", 'I was made to love you'
Zubrette
Belzedar, King of pictionary, wrote,
> There is no such thing as a bad pun.
With the exception that proves the rule being Richard Whitely.
--
Zubrette
... I may go out out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat to wear
Jason A Williams / Khendon
>
>Belzedar, King of pictionary, wrote,
>
>> There is no such thing as a bad pun.
>
>With the exception that proves the rule being Richard Whitely.
Richard Whitely is *ace*!
--
"While you're technically correct, you're quite wrong" - John Levon
Jason A Williams / Khendon <ja...@khendon.org.uk>
Sarabian
>On Fri, 28 Sep 2001 20:14:52 +0100, Zubrette wrote:
>>With the exception that proves the rule being Richard Whitely.
>
>Richard Whitely is *ace*!
(digging into school memory)
Which, of course, means A Crappy Effort :)
Sarabian
--
"I'd go with Betty, but I'd be thinking of Wilma"
Itagne
> > I might be a little full of myself, but yesterday I managed one of the
> > most difficult things I've ever done in English - I made a pun
> > (intentional).
>
> If it helps, my favourite pun of the day:
>
> Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
The greatest pun of all time: "As someone once remarked to Schubert, 'take us
to your lieder.'" -- I think it's a Tom Lehrer.
Cheers,
Nick
--
Whistler: So what are we, helpless? Puppets? Nah. The big moments are gonna
come, you can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's
when you find out who you are.
-- Joss Whedon, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", 'Becoming, Part Two'
Jason A Williams / Khendon
>The greatest pun of all time: "As someone once remarked to Schubert, 'take us
>to your lieder.'" -- I think it's a Tom Lehrer.
*blank look*
Remember, I'm a Confirmed Philistine :-)
Leia
Beldin <Bel...@ValeOfAldur.alg> wrote in message
news:3BB2F159...@ValeOfAldur.alg...
> I might be a little full of myself, but yesterday I
> managed one of the most difficult things I've ever
> done in English - I made a pun (intentional).
Congratulations! :)
> Do you realise how hard that is in a foreign language?
No. :)
> And if any of you should happen to think "what's the
> problem - puns are easy" - I'd like to see you make
> a pun in a foreign language - I'd challenge any non-Danes
> to make a pun in Danish that would make me laugh.
<pass> Well, my uncle lives in Hvide Sande (.dk) - and he is not a native.
Next time I am there, I will make a point of finding out if he can make any
sort of joke in Danish. 'Twill be intrestin'....
> Just to get a better grasp of the English pun -
<snip>
I find English language to be far more flexible when it comes to playing on
words, or even making up new words, than any other language I know. Puns
are a good example of that flexibility, but not my favourite way to play
with words. Try spoonerisms - there are some great examples to be found at:
http://fun-with-words.com/ - recommended to anyone who is at all interested
in English (even our resident expert, Itty :)).
> Come up with more examples yourselves.
Nooooooooo.........
--
Leia :)
Beeblebear
Beldin <Bel...@ValeOfAldur.alg> wrote in message
news:3BB2F159...@ValeOfAldur.alg...
> tell me whether the following constitute proper puns in
> English:
>
> Playing with one wording having more than one meaning -
> e.g: If someone tells me he is an engine driver and I ask
> him how long he _trained_ for that
>
> Playing with some similarity between words - e.g. when
> asked about my intentions I answer that they are _intense_.
>
> Come up with more examples yourselves.
You're a Buddhist? Do you like Tibet, or are you not allowed to gamble?
Courtesy of Dennis Pennis
--
--
Chris Lyth (Cl...@ifis.org.uk)
Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of
view.
Vard
<n.g.b...@durham.ac.uk> writes
>On 27 Sep 2001, jason+...@khendon.org.uk (Khendon) wrote:
>
>> > I might be a little full of myself, but yesterday I managed one of the
>> > most difficult things I've ever done in English - I made a pun
>> > (intentional).
>>
>> If it helps, my favourite pun of the day:
>>
>> Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
>
>The greatest pun of all time: "As someone once remarked to Schubert, 'take us
>to your lieder.'" -- I think it's a Tom Lehrer.
It is, from his that was the year that was CD (Pretty sure it's from the
song about Hubert Humphrie off that).
--
**** Vard
*maujv*__@ highroans.demon.co.uk
*******./ "I have decided that conquering with dark armies is ... outmoded,
" " Old-fashioned, passe"- The dark one, Grunts
Zubrette
Vard wrote:
> >The greatest pun of all time: "As someone once remarked to Schubert,
> >'take us to your lieder.'" -- I think it's a Tom Lehrer.
> It is, from his that was the year that was CD (Pretty sure it's from the
> song about Hubert Humphrie off that).
Ahh Tom Lehrer. Genius.
The song in question is called 'Whatever became of Hubert'.
One of my favourites of Lehrer's is from 'The Masochism Tango' where
the line 'My heart is in my hand..' takes on a lovely second meaning.
Belzedar
alt.fan.eddings
>On Sat, 29 Sep 2001 17:58:34 +0100, Itagne wrote:
>>The greatest pun of all time: "As someone once remarked to Schubert, 'take us
>>to your lieder.'" -- I think it's a Tom Lehrer.
It is indeed.
Remind me to bring the complete works cd collection to the next tEC...
>
>*blank look*
>
>Remember, I'm a Confirmed Philistine :-)
..That's okay, So am I :-)...
Kamion
>Belzedar, King of pictionary, wrote,
>> There is no such thing as a bad pun.
>
>With the exception that proves the rule being Richard Whitely.
No, I think he's the exception that proves the rule "there's no such
thing as a tie that clashes hideously with every other item of clothing
you're wearing" ...
--
Kamion