老外们喜欢幽默,日常生活中许多英语(论坛)幽默来自于对语言的巧妙运用,尤其是对双关语的运用。老外们的幽默感通过双关语得到了淋漓尽致地发挥。
1 句法结构双关
例句:
--"Do you ever draw picture in the nude?"
--"No, I usually wear a jacket."
对话中,提问的人是想问“你有没有画过****画”,而回答的人却理解为“你曾经光着身子画过画吗?”这则幽默中双关产生的原因是对in the nude在句中不同功能的理解,即作定语或作状语。
2 语义双关
例一:一个男孩子为了追求一个在银行窗口工作的女孩子,便在递交存折的同时附上了一张小纸条。
"Dear M:
I have been SAVING this question in the hope that I might gain some INTETRST. If free Friday, would you care to DEPOST yourself beside me at a movie? I have taken into ACCOUNT that you maybe previously engaged; if so I will WITHDRAW my offer and hipe Saturday. At any RATE, your company would much enjoy, and I hope you will not ASSESS this as too forward. Check you late.
Sincerely B."