Why are really good puns painful? Best answer on the web
and/or have a physical reaction? This emotional/physical reaction is
quite curious, and I'm interested to know more about it.
To quote a Nathan Shores from a random post to alt.cuddle:
"But tell a really GOOD pun, and everyone writhes around in agony,
EXCEPT the punster, who giggles like mad."
I would love to see an article, study, or good discussion on why this is so.
It would seem from my research that peoples reactions to puns vary alot. Whilst some people groan, howl, laugh etc. others appear to be not amused, but all of these people are impressed by the ‘cleverness’ of the pun. Those who laugh at the pun are likely to appreciate it s cleverness of construction, whilst those who groan are probably just wishing they had thought of it first! Like all humour ‘timing’ is of the essence, and if a pun can be delivered at just the right moment you are bound to make an impact. However to deliver on time is a very difficult thing, you either have to have a good memory and store all those puns just waiting for the right moment, or have the type of quick mind that most of us lack. Anyway, below you will find some very interesting material on puns and the affects they have on people.
Definition of a pun:
“A pun is defined by Webster as "the humorous use of a word, or of words which are formed or sounded alike but have different meanings, in such a way as to play on two or more of the possible applications; a play on words." http://www.punoftheday.com/
A very informative site:
“This theory suggests that the main reason people in general dislike puns is because they themselves did not make them.” http://www.essaydepot.com/essayme/1145/
“Why do people groan when a pun is told? A pun is often considered obvious humor, since the person relating it is merely balancing the humor in it on a twist of a word's meaning or sound. Children love this type of obvious humor and can laugh at it without reproachments. Adults, on the other hand, are more likely to have a twinge of envy, and "why didn't I think of that?". It is this envy in adults that subconciously causes them to groan upon hearing a pun. As time goes on, it can only be hoped that we adults will eventually learn to react more like a child and less like a groan-up!” http://www.punoftheday.com/
“But think of your friends who are always doing puns. Have you noticed that they think they're really pretty funny, even though you don't? Puns are often funnier to the person who thinks them up, because it takes more mental effort to think of a pun on the spot than it does to understand it once it's told to you.” http://www.laughterremedy.com/humor2.dir/humor4_00.html
“Doctors have done many studies as to the physical effects of humor. They have found it to be positive in the heart, immune system and the nervous system.“ http://rock.uwc.edu/Psych/psy208/witmur/ageing.htm
Metamagical Themas (sounds like an interesting read!)
“....is partly about science, partly about verbal puns and their equivalents in arithmetic, geometry and computer science” http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?salesurl=Ishop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp&isbn=0465045669
A rather unscientific sounding explanation:
“All in all, the answer lies in simple chemistry. A true pun, when } correctly used, momentarily stuns the hearers, producing a brief } instant of pain. The body, in reaction, pours out seratonin and other } such chemicals almost instantly to dull the pain, leaving a warm and } fuzzy feeling, and occasionally producing euphoria. (Hence the stifled } giggles that often follow the groans of pain when a pun is uttered). “ http://www.cs.indiana.edu/l/www/pub/oracle/11/1134
“Puns may be the lowest form of wit (and "therefore the foundation of all wit" according to Henry Erskine) but do they deserve the scorn that has been heaped upon them by their detractors down through the ages? Coleridge allowed that the pun was "harmless... because it never excites envy." Even Sigmund Freud waded in on the topic explaining the pun's lowly stature with the fact that they are "the cheapest- can be made with the least trouble." Leave it to Oscar Levant to astutely point out: "A pun is the lowest form of humor- if you didn't think of it first." http://puzzles.about.com/library/weekly/aa000609.htm
IN DEFENCE OF THE PUN
"The assumption that puns are per se contemptible ... is a sign at once of sheepish docility and a desire to seem superior. Puns are good, bad, or indifferent, and only those who lacks the wit to make them are unaware of the fact.” http://fanac.org/fanzines/Willis_Papers/Defence_Of_The_Pun.html
From the University of Sterling Scotland
“PSCHOLOGICAL MODELS OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS”
“MANIC SYMPTOMS.”
“5. ENDLESS STREAM OF TALK, RAPID TOPIC CHANGE, CONTINUOUS STREAM OF JOKES, PUNS” http://www.stir.ac.uk/Departments/HumanSciences/Psychology/4612/kp/DISORDERS1.htm
“We will conclude by mentioning one implication of this work for another aspect of language use, namely linguistic humor. Puns and other jokes often rely on homonyms for their effects. The aesthetic impact of puns” http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~kellym/homonym.html
Thank you for the question.
THX1138
Some of the search strategy terms I used:
puns affect humor physical
://www.google.com/search?hl=pt&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=all&q=puns+affect+humor+physical&btnG=Pesquisa+Google&lr=
(The only thing that came close in the links you list is the quote from the old-school Internet Oracle 'joke' postings.)
I definitely appreciate all your research on the question, but would love to hear any additional information you have on the physical reactions to puns.
The psychological and physical aspects of humour have been studied quite extensively, however it seems impossible to isolate puns for investigation as the study of humour is very subjective, so whilst one person might find a pun or joke funny someone else might not. The reasons why some people find a pun funny and others don t is subjective, it s a bit like asking why a particular modern art painting is beautiful, I could respond that I don t like modern art and I prefer more classical styles, it s a personal trait or preference. However when a person does find something funny (ie a pun) then certain physical and psychological effects happen:
Neurobiology and Behavior:
“I also think that one of the hardest things to explain in terms of the nervous system would be our sense of humor. I mean, not the mechanical substance of laugh, but why people find things funny. I think that this is one of the most personal and unique things about all of us. This would be very hard if not impossible to explain why humans find some things funny, and some not, and why our senses of humor differ from person to a person. “ http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro97/week01/
Laughter on the Brain (This site will probably be of most interest to you) “The physiological study of laughter has its own name -- gelotology. And we know that certain parts of the brain are responsible for certain human functions. For example, emotional responses are the function of the brain's largest region, the frontal lobe. But researchers have learned that the production of laughter is involved with various regions of the brain. While the relationship between laughter and the brain is not fully understood, researchers are making some progress. “ http://biz.howstuffworks.com/laughter3.htm
“Research results indicate that, after exposure to humor, there is a general increase in activity within the immune system, including: An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells. An increase in activated T cells (T lymphocytes). There are many T cells that await activation. Laughter appears to tell the immune system to "turn it up a notch." An increase in the antibody IgA (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper respiratory tract insults and infections. An increase in gamma interferon, which tells various components of the immune system to "turn on." An increase in IgB, the immunoglobulin produced in the greatest quantity in body, as well as an increase in Complement 3, which helps antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or infected cells. The increase in both substances was not only present while subjects watched a humor video; there also was a lingering effect that continued to show increased levels the next day” http://www.holistic-online.com/Humor_Therapy/humor_therapy_benefits.htm
“When you laugh there is an involuntary stimulus to the respiratory system. Hearty laughter involves effective expiration of gases followed by deep inspiration. A good exercise for your lungs and diaphragm.” http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/nadkarni/chap11.htm
“The brain’s right hemisphere appears to be important in appreciating humor (7). In particular, the frontal lobe processes cognitive tasks needed for us to get to the joke, including abstract interpretation of aspects of conversation such as irony, affective intonation, sarcasm, and innuendo.8 The frontal lobe is part of a wider neural circuit involved in controlling emotion. Many neural pathways connect it with the “emotional” part of the brain—that is, the limbic and hypothalamic systems.” http://www.epub.org.br/cm/n13/mente/laughter/page5.html
Also have a look at this link using ‘gelotology’ (the study of laughter) as the keyword: ://www.google.com/search?hl=pt&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=all&q=gelotology&btnG=Pesquisa+Google&lr=
I hope this has helped to clarify my answer, but if you need any further help don t hesitate to ask.
Thanks again
THX1138