Humour: Stylistic Approaches

An important focus in contemporary stylistics has been on the connections between style and verbal humor, and this article charts the ways in which stylisticians have used a variety of linguistic models to analyze humorous discourse. The idea of stylistic incongruity is identified as being especially important in triggering the humor reflex. The principle of incongruity applies to any level of language or discourse, as is illustrated here by examples of puns and related forms of humor as well as by incongruities that are more to do with mismatches between text and discourse context. The principle of incongruity is also aligned with the concept of irony, through which a number of points are made about the stylistic analysis of both parody and satire.

Automaticity, spelling, and second language learning

This study investigated the relationship between a chronometric estimate of automaticity for the spelling of French words (Automaticity) and performance on four tests of French language attainment among a sample of Year 11 students of French as a foreign language. Fifty participants each completed a computerized test of French spelling and attainment tests in four aspects of French language learning: reading comprehension, writing fluency, oral fluency, and aural comprehension. Correlations were significant between Automaticity and performance on all four tests of French language attainment as well as on overall attainment.