Unnews: lexical choices in building humorous sense effects

Authors

  • Ana Cristina Carmelino Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • Karine Silveira Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo

Abstract

This article reflects about how lexicon, especially the one that composes referential nominal expressions, acts in the production of humorous texts. Our objectives are to show not only that lexical selection, when linked to text external factors, consists in a humor technique, but also that it supplies an effective mechanism in humor production. In order to do that, we analyze unnews, the humorous texts which parody news and which are posted in the site named Uncyclopedia. The analysis is based on a sociocognitive interactive perspective and on some humor theories (superiority theory, catharsis theory, and incongruity theory). We assume that the use of the lexicon in referential recategorisation processes consists in a discursive activity in which speakers act on linguistic material making signifi cant choices to express their intentions.

Key words: lexicon, referential expressions, humor, unnews.

Author Biographies

Ana Cristina Carmelino, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo

Bacharel e Licenciada em Letras pela Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP-Araraquara). Mestre e doutora em Linguística e Língua Portuguesa pela mesma universidade. É professora adjunta II do Departamento de Línguas e Letras da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) e professora permanente do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Linguística da UFES. Desenvolve pesquisas nas áreas de Linguística do Texto e do Discurso e Retórica, principalmente sobre os temas: texto, discurso, referenciação, argumentação, gênero textual e humor. É líder do grupo de pesquisa GETHu – Grupo de Estudos de Textos Humorísticos (CNPq). Dentre as suas publicações destacam-se a organização dos livros Nos caminhos do texto: atos de leitura (2007) e A linguagem do humor: diferentes olhares teóricos (2009).

Karine Silveira, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo

Mestranda do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Linguística da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo.

Downloads

Published

2013-12-13

How to Cite

Carmelino, A. C., & Silveira, K. (2013). Unnews: lexical choices in building humorous sense effects. Calidoscópio, 11(3), 250–258. Retrieved from https://revistas.unisinos.br/index.php/calidoscopio/article/view/cld.2013.113.03

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2013): September/December

Section

Articles

License

I grant the journal Calidoscópio the first publication of my article, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (which allows sharing of work, recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal).

I confirm that my article is not being submitted to another publication and has not been published in its entirely on another journal. I take full responsibility for its originality and I will also claim responsibility for charges from claims by third parties concerning the authorship of the article.

I also agree that the manuscript will be submitted according to the journal’s publication rules described above.