Is Language Subversive？ -- A Comparative ＂Cultural＂ Study of the Role of Language in Humor in Bakhtin＇s Rabelais and His World and Chaplin＇s Modern Times -- Possible Implications for Teaching English as a Second Language （ESL）  

作　　者：Tony Momiroski 

机构地区：[1]Xi＇an Jiatong University

出　　处：《Sino-US English Teaching》2006年第2期1-12,共12页中美英语教学（英文版）

摘　　要：An understanding of the role of humor in language can be useful for teaching and learning ESL. Its importance is, however, to be teased out by implication. The language of humor is not merely for entertainment, but it is in helping to deal with massive change, that the role of humor can best be understood and to which it best lends itself. Bakhtin＇s interpretation of Rabelais and His World （1984）, Rabelais own writings on Gargantua and Pantagruelt, and Chaplin＇s movie Modern Times （1936） are three mediums that help highlight the role that language： verbal, written and body-language play in communication. There are parallels and implications for ESL teaching and learning. The lessons to be learnt from an analysis of the language of humour are most informing for ESL teachers. For all of them, the principal actors in these works, and ESL teachers by implication, the period in which they live offer unique challenges for themselves and for their people. ESL teachers also find themselves direct participants in a cultural and linguistic revolution at this time. As French deconstruction has argued the meaning is not self evident in the writer＇s thoughts and words alone, but there is meaning in the ＂play＂ between the words as well. Humor can be subversive, but it is in the social function, that the language of humor can best be understood. ESL teachers stand as mediums between two worlds. They act as both interpreters and navigators of spoken language and intercultural discourse. Here humour can be an important tool for teaching that bridges the two worlds of students and teachers.

分 类 号：H319[语言文字—英语]