Humor

Is humor a universal experience? Well, it's true that people all over the world enjoy a good laugh. But every culture's funny bone is tickled a different way. Humor is based on shared experiences and background knowledge. As a result, non-Americans have a hard time seeing why American jokes are funny, even if they know what the words mean. But if you know what to look for, you can learn to appreciate American humor.
幽默是不是一種全世界共通的經驗呢？嗯，全世界的人都喜歡開懷大笑倒是真的。不過，
令不同文化背景的人感到好笑之處都不相同，幽默是建立在共同的經驗與知識背景上，因
此，即使能明白字面上的意思，但若不是美國人就很難了解美式笑話的好笑之處。不過你
若能掌握訣竅，就可以學會欣賞美式幽默。
The pun, or the play on words, is a basic part of American humor. Puns are
based on words that have a double meaning or words that sound alike. For example, one man saw an expensive car wrapped around a tree after an accident. He said, “That's the way the Mercedes Benz!” The obvious pun is that Benz sounds like bends. Some people consider the pun a low form ofhumor, but many Americans still enjoy “pun”-ishing each other.
雙關語，或稱作玩弄文字遊戲，是美式幽默中一個基本的部分。雙關語所用的字都有
雙重的意義，或者發音很接近。舉例來說，有個人看到一輛昂貴的汽車在發生意外事
故後整個車身纏繞在一棵樹上，他說：「賓士車撞歪之後就是這副德性！」在這個明
顯的雙關語中，「賓士」的發音和「彎曲」很像。有些人覺得雙關語是較為不高尚的
幽默方式，但是很多美國人仍然喜歡以雙關語彼此開玩笑。
Other types of American humor are based on language, too. Knock-knock jokes, popular with
children, follow a standard format:
其他種類的美式幽默也是以語文為基礎的。「敲門，敲門」的笑話在孩子圈裡很流行，
其標準格式如下：
Knock knock!
Who's there?
Dozen.
Dozen who?
Dozen (Doesn't) anybody want to let me in?
People in America like making each other laugh. Even if they are not professional comedians, most people think they have a good sense of humor. A favorite American style of joking around is “pulling somebody's leg.” That means telling someone a story which is untrue—maybe even a “tall tale”—while keeping a straight face. At other times, Americans use funny voices or sound effects to spice up a story. Their body language and facial expressions add to the humor.
美國人喜歡引人發笑，即使不是什麼專業的喜劇演員，大部分的人都覺得自己很幽默。
美國人最喜歡的一種玩笑方式是「開別人玩笑，使其信以為真」，就是板著臉孔正經
八百地陳述一件並非真實的故事——或許甚至是個誇張的故事。此外，美國人會以滑
稽的聲音或音效為一個故事增加笑料，他們的肢體語言和面部表情可以使其更好笑。
Sometimes, though, people in America make jokes about others. Mothers-in-law, politicians, teachers and ethnic groups are the target o f many jokes. Here's one: An absent-minded college professor left a note on his office door that said, “I'II be back in one hour.” When he returned, he read the note and sat down to wait for himself. Get it?
不過，有時候美國人也會取笑他人，岳母、政客、老師和不同族群的人都是被取笑的
對象。這裡有一個笑話：一個心不在焉的大學教授在他辦公室門口留了一張紙條，上
面寫著：「我會在一個小時內回來。」當他回來時，看完紙條後就坐下來等他自己。
你聽懂了嗎？
America is a funny place. lf you need a laugh, it's not far away. Just pick up a newspaper and scan the “funny pages” for your favorite comic strip. Or turn on the TV and watch a comedy show. Mail a smile to a friend by sending a humorous greeting card. And watch for amusing situations around you in real life. Telling stories about funny experiences is a great way to brighten up someone's day. Hey, did you hear about the time I...
美國是個很有趣的地方，你如果需要一笑，絕對不成問題。只要拿起報紙，瀏覽一下
遊戲版上你最喜歡的連環漫畫，或者打開電視看一齣喜劇。寄一張有趣的祝賀卡給朋
友，帶給他一個微笑。觀察周遭生活中一些有趣的情況，把一些有趣的經驗告訴別人
，這也是個讓人日子過得更開心的好方法。嘿，你有沒有聽說，有一次我...。



@Word Bank
funny bone (n phr) 肘上方恥骨之端（碰到時會發麻）
tickle (v) 搔癢；覺得酥癢
pun (n) 雙關語
wrap around (v phr) 纏裹
comedian (n) 喜劇演員
pull somebody's leg (v phr) 開某人玩笑使其信以為真 
target (n)（被開玩笑的）目標
absent-minded (adj) 心不在焉的 

comic strip (n phr) 連環圖畫
 

 

@The Day's Phrase

Six tips to protect you in the sun this summer
今夏保護你不受陽光侵害的六大祕訣

Marie's parents have very strict rules. I would hate to be in her shoes when she gets home after curfew.
瑪麗的父母規定很嚴格，我不會喜歡處於她宵禁後回家的處境。

Making life brighter for special families
讓特殊家庭的人生更光明

Robert got front row seats at the last Chicago Bulls game. He knew people in high places to get those tickets.
瑪上次芝加哥公牛隊比賽時，羅伯拿了前排座位的票。他認識一些有影響力的人替他拿到了票。

Don't give up - you can do it
別放棄，你一定學得會

Laura exclaimed, "Grandma has lost her marbles! She keeps calling me Roy!"
蘿拉喊道：「奶奶已經老糊塗了！她一直把我叫做羅伊！」
Kelly can eat a whole cake by herself. I wonder how she can eat like a pig and stay slender?
凱莉一個人可以吃下一整個蛋糕。我想不透她是怎能吃那麼多又保持苗條的。

An amazing world of animal and plant life hides just under the water's surface
充滿動、植物生態的神奇世界就隱藏在水面之下

It seems like Hollywood filmmakers have money to burn. They spend extravagant amounts of money to make movies.
好萊塢的製片們似乎是有花不完的錢，他們砸下大把銀子製作電影。

Paul heard about his brother's engagement before the rest of the family did.
He said, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, my lips are sealed."
保羅比他其他的家人早得知他弟弟訂婚的消息。
他說：「別擔心，我不會告訴任何人的，我會守口如瓶。」

The many surprising ways cacti can be used
仙人掌有許多驚奇意外的用途

Camping is not Brian's scene. He hates sleeping on the ground and fighting off the hungry mosquitoes.
布萊恩對露營沒興趣。他討厭睡在地上並和飢餓的蚊子群奮戰。
The square was a sea of people.