Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper Names

This paper analyses how proper names fit in the incongruity resolution theory of humor, more specifically Bergson (1911)’s theory of humor as rigidification (and related distraction and exaggeration). The relevant properties of proper names, such as their rigid format and semantic unanalysability, t...

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Main Author: Manon Philippe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 2021-08-01
Series:Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/5204
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author Manon Philippe
author_facet Manon Philippe
author_sort Manon Philippe
collection DOAJ
description This paper analyses how proper names fit in the incongruity resolution theory of humor, more specifically Bergson (1911)’s theory of humor as rigidification (and related distraction and exaggeration). The relevant properties of proper names, such as their rigid format and semantic unanalysability, their high degree of lexicalization, and their potential role as parangons, are explained in order to suggest possible metalinguistic script oppositions that could describe how proper names, as lexical units, are used in humorous contexts.
format Article
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issn 1951-6215
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publisher Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
record_format Article
series Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
spelling doaj-art-24f79c59bb9b47b288d99690f20e55af2025-08-20T01:52:29ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152021-08-011710.4000/lexis.5204Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper NamesManon PhilippeThis paper analyses how proper names fit in the incongruity resolution theory of humor, more specifically Bergson (1911)’s theory of humor as rigidification (and related distraction and exaggeration). The relevant properties of proper names, such as their rigid format and semantic unanalysability, their high degree of lexicalization, and their potential role as parangons, are explained in order to suggest possible metalinguistic script oppositions that could describe how proper names, as lexical units, are used in humorous contexts.https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/5204humorincongruitymetalinguistic propertiesBergsonproper names
spellingShingle Manon Philippe
Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper Names
Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
humor
incongruity
metalinguistic properties
Bergson
proper names
title Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper Names
title_full Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper Names
title_fullStr Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper Names
title_full_unstemmed Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper Names
title_short Incongruous Names: the Humorous Coinage and Use of Proper Names
title_sort incongruous names the humorous coinage and use of proper names
topic humor
incongruity
metalinguistic properties
Bergson
proper names
url https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/5204
work_keys_str_mv AT manonphilippe incongruousnamesthehumorouscoinageanduseofpropernames