Bulletin of Graduate School of Education, Okayama University
Published by Graduate School of Education, Okayama University

Discourse Shifting for Humorous Effect: The Python Method

Gardner, Scott Kaken ID
Published Date
2010-10-25
Abstract
The linguistic concept of register, while not yet defined to the satisfaction of all, is nevertheless a fairly well used one in describing speakers' shifts in language according to situational nonns or constraints. Inappropriateness of register for context is usually seen as a sociolinguistic or pragmatic error. But in some cases it is done intentionally and creatively, such as in several cases of register-shifting humor in the TV series Monty Python's Flying Circus. This paper gives several examples of humorous register shifting in Monty Python, and analyzes how the shifting has its effect.
Keywords
register
Monty Python
humor
jokes
linguistics
ISSN
1883-2423
NCID
AA12338258
NAID
JaLCDOI