Argumentum, Vol. 21 (2025), pp. 142–154.

A critique and overview of current Humour Theories and their further integration into the field of Cognitive Linguistics. “I like jokes. Little pieces of nonsense. But thinking seriously about things is frightetning”

Márk Bognár

    University of Szeged, Doctoral School of Linguistics (Applied Linguistics in English)

    bognar.markw1@gmail.com

DOI: 10.34103/ARGUMENTUM/2025/10

Abstract

This paper explores the further integration of humour theories into the field of cognitive linguistics using Svetlana Alexievich’s book Boys in Zinc (2017). It applies a framework that aims to enhance our understanding of humour, language and cultural cognition. Through revisiting foundational humour theories, the study critiques their limita­tions and their holistic approach by focusing on each component of the humorous remarks. By employing a cog­nitive linguistic framework, the analysis focuses on the interplay between micro-, meso-, and macro-level contexts in joke construction and interpretation. It aims to highlight the necessity of a more precise manner of categoriza­tion, which relies on the existing cognitive linguistic framework of humour analysis. This approach was developed to demonstrate how humour reflects socio-cultural identities and beliefs manifesting in jokes.

Keywords: humour studies, cognitive linguistics

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