Fun With Language
June 14th, 2009 by ComputerBob
I have a very dry sense of humor.
Delivered with a straight face.
So sometimes, it takes a few seconds for people to “get it.” I really like that — I enjoy seeing the look of recognition appear on their faces right before they start laughing.
Of course, now and then, one or more members of my audience are listening to me so intently that they think I’m serious, and my humor goes right over their heads without them ever realizing that they just heard a joke.
I take that in stride — it’s part of the cost of doing business the way I do.
When we first met, it took my wife a couple of years to be able to tell the difference between when I was joking and when I was serious. Even now, I slip one past her every once in awhile.
One of my favorite types of humor is to “play dumb” and take other people’s words very literally.
It’s one form of a type of humor that I call “Fun With Language.”
For example, several years ago at lunch time, one of my coworkers asked a group of us, “Did anyone watch ‘Friends’ last night?”
I replied, “Millions of people watch it every week — it’s a very popular show.”
Another form of “Fun With Language” is exemplified by one of my favorite quotes from comedian Groucho Marks: “Time flies like an eagle. Fruit flies like a banana.”
Here’s another great example of someone who understands the concept of “Fun With Language.”
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