We are getting used to receiving all sorts of diversions from friends and fellow workers by their emailings over the Internet these days. Many of these diversions come in the form of word play or puns. Although an analysis of humor is scarcely funny, let’s take a deeper look at the various structures that can make language funny when put in good hands. Firstly, a couple of useful definitions which themselves come supplied with further sub examples:

A pun (or paronomasia) is a phrase that deliberately exploits confusion between similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect. (That is, puns use phonetic confusion to effect some emotional or intellectual result). (Wikipedia). For example, in the phrase, “There is nothing punny about bad puns,”, the pun takes place in the deliberate confusion of the implied word “funny” by the substitution of the word “punny.”

By definition, puns must be deliberate; an involuntary substitution of similar words is called a malapropism. (Wikipedia). Word play is a term better applied to the use of puns in literary and narrative technique (novels, plays) in which the nature of the words used themselves become part of the subject of the work. (See Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest) which includes such characters as John Worthing (a man of worth), Reverend Canon Chasuble (church law, and sleeveless robe worn by a priest), the Honorable Gwendolyn Fairfax (a fair lady), and Lady Bracknell (an unpleasant lady).

Grammatical aspects of puns: A pun may also cause confusion between two senses of the same written or spoken word, due to various aspects of polysemy (the ambiguity of an individual word or phrase that can be used (in different contexts to express two or more different meanings): a) homophony (words having the same sound but different spellings and meanings, b) homography (words that have the same spelling but different meanings), c) homonymy (seemingly a synonym for homophone and homograph), d) heteronymy (two words with identical spellings but different meanings and pronunciations; another example of polysemy and seemingly a synonym for homograph. There is also an aspect to puns that is metaphorical, that is, to use figurative language representing another meaning). Walter Redfern has said: “To pun is to treat homonyms as synonyms.”Other manifestations of Puns which may include phonetic or graphic mix-ups include: spoonerisms, (unintentional transposition of the first letters of two or more words–”dear queen/queer dean), malapropisms (the substitution of one word for another incorrect word with a similar sound, usually to comic effect–”What are you incinerating?…” instead of: insinuating); “I can say that without fear of contraception” instead of: contradiction). (See The Rivals, by Richard Sheridan in which an eponymous character, Mrs. Malaprop, epitomizes the incorrect substitution of one word for another based upon phonetic mix-ups.Still more manifestations of puns include: obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, and telling character names”Oliver Twist” sounds benign, but little Oliver is “twisted” because he is a thief of the streets. (Wikipedia). Word play is quite common in oral cultures as a method of reinforcing meaning. (Wikipedia).
Recently arrived “funny stuff” with analysis: Mensa Invitational Winners–Members of Mensa compete against one another to invent the following word play marked by: (intentional phonetic and/or graphic mix up–intentional
malapropisms, for comic effect):

Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with. (plays on “taxation” and “intoxication”)
Bozone: The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future. (plays on “ozone layer” and “bozo”)
Cashtration: The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an
indefinite period. (plays on “cash” and “castration”)
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it. (plays on “sarcasm” and “chasm”)
Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. (plays upon “innoculate” and “latte” coffee drink)
Hipatitis: Terminal coolness. (plays upon “hip” (cool), and “hepatitis” (a liver disease caused by a virus)
Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.) (plays upon “osteoporosis” (disorder characterized by dwindling of bone mass and “pornography”)
Karmageddon: When too many people on the earth pass off enough bad energy to cause the earth to explode. (plays on “karma” (idea that an individual’s actions determine his fate) and “Armageddon” the final
battle between good and evil at end of world) Doppler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. (plays on “DopplerEffect,” the change in frequency and wavelength of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the waves, and “dope,” a not so smart person)
Arachnoleptic: The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web. (plays on “arachnid” (spider) and “–lepsis” “to be seized by something)
Beelzebug: Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out. (plays on “Beelzebub” (Satan), and “bug” (insect)

More puns and wordplay, but without analysis:
Energizer Bunny arrested: charged with battery
A pessimist’s blood type is always B negative
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumor.
When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.
In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism, your count votes. (spoonerism)

Tags: dean, drought tolerant, malaprop, oscar wilde, punny, puns, queer, spoonerism