August 12, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Pun

August 12, 2014/ Alan Headbloom

As we’ve discussed on previous shows, one difficult aspect of learning a second language is adapting to humor that involves plays on words. They are also called puns. The appropriate way to receive a pun when it is told is to pretend you didn’t think it was funny. You may stare at the pun-teller or even let out a groan (unnnhh!). We don’t want to give punsters credit for clever wordplay, but usually we end up smiling or even laughing. Here is a clever wordplay that most Americans would chuckle over. The question: is it funny to you?

The importance of nonverbal communication goes without saying.

What's So Funny?

This joke involves a play on words that a friend of mine made at a meeting. This joke plays on the fact that non-verbal communication uses no words, just facial expressions, hand gestures, etc. The expression "goes without saying" means that everyone knows this and you don't have to mention it.

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