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Discussion Groups / British English / December 2003Puns
Are there rules for the writing of puns? For example, if I was playing on the words pause, clause, paws, claws, as in "the cat demanded a pause clause", is that the way it should be written - as a pun? Or is "the cat demanded a claws paws?" the correct way - correct when punning, that is? -- Margaret > Are there rules for the writing of puns? For example, if I was playing on > the words pause, clause, paws, claws, as in "the cat demanded a pause > clause", is that the way it should be written - as a pun? Or is "the cat > demanded a claws paws?" the correct way - correct when punning, that is? I would use the former. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan "Apex" <apext@xtra.co.nz> wrote... > Are there rules for the writing of puns? For example, if I was playing > on the words pause, clause, paws, claws, as in "the cat demanded a > pause clause", is that the way it should be written - as a pun? Or is > "the cat demanded a claws paws?" the correct way - correct when > punning, that is? The only "rule" is to give the reader the best chance of "getting" the pun, and it's difficult in your example. If you write "... a pause clause", the reader familiar with legal terms may not realize there's any pun involved; "... a paws claws" may confuse a reader unfamiliar with such terms. I think I'd prepare the reader by referring somehow to "a pause clause", and then saying that the cat preferred "a paws claws". This gives the best chance of most readers appreciating the pun, at the cost of reducing its subtlety for the more sophisticated readers. Matti > "Apex" <apext@xtra.co.nz> wrote... >> Are there rules for the writing of puns? For example, if I was [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > any pun involved; "... a paws claws" may confuse a reader unfamiliar > with such terms. Either would confuse me. I gather from the above that "a pause clause" is a phrase with some meaning in law, but I've never heard of it. Could somebody please explain it?  SignatureMike Stevens, narrowboat Felis Catus II Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk No man is an island. So is Man. >> "Apex" <apext@xtra.co.nz> wrote... >>> Are there rules for the writing of puns? For example, if I was [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >is a phrase with some meaning in law, but I've never heard of it. Could >somebody please explain it? Perhaps it's a subsection of the sanity clause. SignatureSeason's Greetings Peter Duncanson > >> "Apex" <apext@xtra.co.nz> wrote... > >>> Are there rules for the writing of puns? For example, if I was [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > > Perhaps it's a subsection of the sanity clause. LOL. Your comments indicate one of the difficulties with puns - the punning writer/speaker knows exactly what is meant but may "make up" things because of the availability of homophones. AFAIK, there is no such thing as a "pause clause" - just made it up for an example. (After observing cats doing absolutely nothing all day, as per usual!) Comments so far indicate that a pun should stick to the "logical" meaning when written, and hope the reader applies the homophone. This is what happens with spoken puns of course. Many thanks. apext@xtra.co.nz wrote: > > >> "Apex" <apext@xtra.co.nz> wrote... > > >>> Are there rules for the writing of puns? For example, if I was [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > when written, and hope the reader applies the homophone. This is what > happens with spoken puns of course. Many thanks. Your example tickled me, because I've been known occasionally (and unforgivably) to put a Sig line on a post that referred to my wild younger days, like Rebel Without a Pause In the hope that most readers will know or know of the James Dean movie. SignatureIan change mocker to rocker to Reply by email > AFAIK, there is no such thing as a "pause clause" - just made it up > for an example. (After observing cats doing absolutely nothing all [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > meaning when written, and hope the reader applies the homophone. This > is what happens with spoken puns of course. Many thanks. If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, IMO. Unlike the classic Q : What's the difference between a sentence and a cat? A : A sentence has pauses at the ends of its clauses, but a cat has clawses at the ends of its pawses. SignatureMike Stevens, narrowboat Felis Catus II Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk No man is an island. So is Man. "Mike Stevens" wrote in message ] > If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, IMO. > > Unlike the classic > Q : What's the difference between a sentence and a cat? > A : A sentence has pauses at the ends of its clauses, but a cat has > clawses at the ends of its pawses. Now that is clever. Nevertheless the Guinness Book of Words defines a pun as a play on words that sound the same (or similar) but have different meanings. (Often described as the lowest form of wit, we must remember!). I wonder who said that? Someone having trouble thinking of any, I expect. Your example is more a riddle, IMO. -- Peg > "Mike Stevens" wrote in message ] > > If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, IMO. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > A : A sentence has pauses at the ends of its clauses, but a > > cat has clawses at the ends of its pawses. > Now that is clever. Nevertheless the Guinness Book of Words defines a > pun as a play on words that sound the same (or similar) but have > different meanings. (Often described as the lowest form of wit, we > must remember!). I wonder who said that? Someone having trouble > thinking of any, I expect. > Your example is more a riddle, IMO. Yes, I'd also heard that buns are the lowest form of wheat. Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/mavic/0m05-0.htm Quintessence Of Poppy > > "Mike Stevens" wrote in message ] > > > If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, IMO. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Yes, I'd also heard that buns are the lowest form of wheat. I can barley believe that. -- Peg >>> "Mike Stevens" wrote in message ] >>>> If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, IMO. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > I can barley believe that. You amaze me. m. > >> Yes, I'd also heard that buns are the lowest form of wheat. > > > > I can barley believe that. > You amaze me. A corny remark, true, but is it spelt right? Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/colour/4r-0.htm As Tuesday's Sword of Iron Mars the Redden Earth, Twin Sacraments - of Fire and Blood - dishonour Birth. >> >> Yes, I'd also heard that buns are the lowest form of wheat. >> > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >A corny remark, true, but is it spelt right? A rye observation. Signaturewrmst rgrds Robin Bignall Quiet part of Hertfordshire England > >> >> Yes, I'd also heard that buns are the lowest form of wheat. > >> > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > > >A corny remark, true, but is it spelt right? > A rye observation. Oats bodkins, even the doc's after his pun de flesh! Signaturehttp://www.dacha.freeuk.com/ada/07-0.htm Haddocks are sensitive fish... >> >> >> Yes, I'd also heard that buns are the lowest form of wheat. >> >> > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Oats bodkins, even the doc's after his pun de flesh! Tap I ochre, and call I Hannibal. Signaturewrmst rgrds Robin Bignall Quiet part of Hertfordshire England >>>> "Mike Stevens" wrote in message ] >>>>> If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > You amaze me. That's just too corny. SignatureMike Stevens, narrowboat Felis Catus II Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk No man is an island. So is Man. "Apex" <apext@xtra.co.nz> wrote... > [...] the Guinness Book of Words defines a pun as > a play on words that sound the same (or similar) but have different > meanings. (Often described as the lowest form of wit, we must > remember!). I wonder who said that? Someone having trouble > thinking of any, I expect. I think it more likely that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. If you can trace the origin of the "lowest form of wit" quotation you'd be doing mankind a service, I think. Matti > "Mike Stevens" wrote in message ] >> If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, IMO. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Your example is more a riddle, IMO. I don't see why a riddle can't also be a pun. Quite a few of them are, in my understanding of the words. SignatureMike Stevens, narrowboat Felis Catus II Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk No man is an island. So is Man. > > "Mike Stevens" wrote in message ] > >> If what you say is true, then your example isn't a pun at all, IMO. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I don't see why a riddle can't also be a pun. Quite a few of them are, > in my understanding of the words. During the Queen's visit to Expo 67 in Montreal, a CBC radio broadcaster explained that strict regulations kept media members some distance from the royal yacht, but he was allowed to be close to the ship, because, as he put it: "for this occasion, Britannia waives the rules." |
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