In:The Pragmatics of Humour in Interactive Contexts
Edited by Esther Linares Bernabéu
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 335] 2023
► pp. 133–151
Humor negotiation in interactional sequences in Spanish
Published online: 24 May 2023
https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.335.06rui
https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.335.06rui
Abstract
This paper reports on the analysis of humor negotiation in
Spanish, using a database of 148 humorous sequences drawn from 67
colloquial conversations of the VALESCO.HUMOR corpus (accessible at
www.observahumor.com; cf. Ruiz-Gurillo, 2021; 2022). To this end, three variables were
addressed. First, following Martin et al. (2003), the style adopted by the speaker
in their turn was analyzed as affiliative,
aggressive, self-defeating or self-enhancing. Affiliative and aggressive styles
predominate in the data, whereas self-defeating and self-enhancing
styles are underrepresented. Second, we asked how participants are
seen to evaluate the verbal behavior within sequences in terms of
politeness, mock impoliteness, impoliteness and non-politeness
(Sinkeviciute, 2019).
Finally, an assessment was made of each sequence regarding how it
could be understood as creating intimacy (endogroup sequence) or as
a form of confrontation (confrontational sequence). Taken together,
these variables (style, evaluation of politeness, and the main
effect of the sequence) led to the identification of three main
trends: politeness with an affiliative style in endogroup sequences;
mock impoliteness with an aggressive style in endogroup sequences;
and mock politeness with an aggressive style in confrontational
sequences.
Keywords: humor, conversation, politeness, affiliative style, aggressive style
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Towards an analysis for humor negotiation
- 2.1Interactional humor in spontaneous conversations
- 2.2Politeness and humor
- 2.3Humor styles, politeness and effects
- 3.Methodology
- 4.Humor negotiation in the VALESCO.HUMOR corpus
- 4.1Politeness with an affiliative style in endogroup sequences
- 4.2Mock impoliteness with an aggressive style in endogroup sequences
- 4.3Mock politeness with an aggressive style in confrontational sequences
- 5.Conclusion
Notes References
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