Compulsory English Grade 12 || Language Development || Unit 7, Humour || Why Do We Laugh Inappropriately? || NEB

 

Unit-7, Humour

 Why do We laugh Inappropriately?

David Robson

 

 

Exercise

Working with words

A. The following words are synonyms and antonyms of the verb 'laugh'. Group them into synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms	Antonyms
Chuckle, chortle, cackle, snicker, smile, sniggle, giggle, grin, smirk, whoop	grimace, pout, scowl, cry, groan, moan, sob

 

B. Match the following emotions with their definitions.

a. fear	vi. an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm
b. anger	v. a strong feeling of displeasure
c. surprise	ix. an unexpected event, fact, etc.
d. disgust	i. a feeling of strong disapproval aroused by something unpleasant
e. sadness	ii. affected with grief or unhappiness
f. happiness	iii. a pleasurable or satisfying experience
g. relief	viii. removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing
h. triumph	iv. a great victory or achievement
i. contentment	vii. the quality of being satisfied

 

C. The author writes, "…the contagious nature of laughter means that waves of mirth can catch on more easily when there are more people." Find out the situations in which the following types of laughter are found.

 

a. Etiquette laughter: Good mannered laughing to go along with others whether they are your seniors or friends even at things which are not funny.

b. Snorting laughter: Laughing either blowing air out or sucking it in through the nose. In such type of laughter, sometime you blow out something through your mouth or nose if you are eating it.

c. Stress-relieving laughter:- like belly laugh

d. silent laughter:  Laughing without any noise or sound

e. Nervous laughter: Laughing during an appropriate situation or uncontrolled laughter in grave situation

f. cruel laughter: laughing like a devil

 

D. A unit of pronunciation at least with one vowel is called a syllable. Listen to your teacher saying the words and say the number of syllables.

char-ge                        : two syllables.

du-ty                             : two syllables

laugh-ter                      : two syllables

com-mis-sion             : three syllables

un-der-tak-ing           : four syllables

re-spon-si-bil-i-ty      : six syllables

hi-lar-i-ty                     : four syllables

per-sist-ent                 : three syllables

in-fec-tious                 : three syllables

e-phem-er-al              : four syllables

 

Comprehension:

A. Complete the following sentences with words/phrases from the text.

a. According to Sophie Scott, Laughter is one of the important and misunderstood behaviors.

b. After her study in Namibia, Scott came to the realization that laughter is one of our riches vocal tics.

c. Studies have shown that there are six universal emotions based on facial expressions.

d. Scott found out that most of the laughs have nothing to do with humour.

e. The couples who laugh at each other are likely to stay longer.

f. The primary way of communication of grown up people is laughter.

g. Comedians usually find it easier to work in larger place due to contagious nature of laughter.

 

B. Answer the following questions.

a. Why do people giggle at someone’s pain or suffering?

Ans: - Humour is our innate quality and develops at early age. It is related to some part of our brain which is associated with bodily motion and visualization evoking laughter. Some events, words and behaviors, though they are not funny, make people laugh. It is also contagious in nature and we laugh when we see people around us laughing.

 

b. What did Scott’s study in Namibia come up with?

Ans: - The study made Scott to realize laughter is one of our richest vocal tics. Her study showed that in comparison to the six easily recognized universal emotions (fear, anger, surprise, disgust, sadness and happiness based on facial expressions) as well as relief, triumph and contentment, laughter is the most easily recognizable emotion.

 

c. How is laughter a social bonding?

Ans: - According to Scott, laughter is a social emotion that brings people together. When we laugh with people, this means we like them, agree them, and put ourselves into the same group other people belong to. It strengthens a relationship. So, laughter is called a social bonding.

 

d. According to the author, what roles does laughter play in husband-wife relation?

Ans: - According to the author, the couple who laugh with each other find it much easier to get relief from tension caused by stressful event and even it is likely to stay together for longer.

 

e. How does laughter work as a painkiller?

Ans: - When we laugh, it helps to produce more endorphins in our brain. This chemical works as a drug to relieve pain and feeling of euphoria.

 

f. What did the study find about the relation between laughter and brain?

Ans: - The study has found out that our brain responds each kind of laughter. It excites the brain mirror regions activating neural mimicry and make laughter so contagious.

 

g. What are two emotions that the author associates with infants and adults?

Ans: - The author associates the two emotions ‘crying’ and ‘laughter’ with infants and adults respectively. In other words, crying is the primary way of communicating where as ‘laughing’ is the most important thing the older we get.

 

h. How does a stand-up comedian take the audience’s laughter?

Ans: - Any stand-up comedian takes the audience’s laughter as an interaction between him/her and the audience. S/he feels as if the audiences are having conversation with him/her.

 

i. How the relation between laughter and crowd?

Ans: - Laughter has a contagious nature and it makes you laugh when you see people close to you laughing. Laughter is infectious and waves of mirth spread quickly in the crowd.

 

j. What does the author mean whey he says, “There is always meaning to it?”

Ans: - According to the author, laughter is a powerful tool to connect people. No matter what kind of laughter it is, it has meaning because it creates bonding, strengthens social relation, helps to favoring each other, works as pain killer and releases all sorts of stresses.

 

Critical Thinking

a. Do you agree that ‘the couples, who laugh together, stay together?’ Is it important for married couples to have the same sense of humour? Why?

Ans: - It is said that “laughter is the best medicine” and it decreases stress hormone and increases stress reducing chemicals- endorphins. Endorphins are natural feel-good chemicals and improve our mood. Happiness and satisfaction tie the husband-and-wife relation and laughter brings them. Even scientific studies have proved it. I agree with the statement.  The couple who spends time laughing together is more likely to enjoy strong and positive relationship. The sense of humour in couple helps them to have relief of pains and is likely to stay longer. If the couple is not happy and satisfied to each other the relationship is vulnerable. Dissatisfaction and unhappiness repel the couple apart and married couples are likely to get divorced. The shared laughter attracts each other allowing them to be more romantic which the key component of everlasting bonding between them is. So, I think, it is important for married couples to have the same sense of humour.  The partners laughing together at jokes are a sign of happy relationship.

 

b. Some people believe that sometimes crying is good for health. Do you believe it? Give your reasons.

Ans: - As we know that laughing is beneficial for our health. It is scientifically proved. But crying is also good for health. I do believe on it. People have done scientific researches on this topic too as similar researches are done on laughter. Like laughter, crying also helps producing chemicals such as oxytocin and endorphins in our body. These chemicals make people feel good and ease both physical and emotional pain. As there are varieties of laughter, there are three types of tears- basal tear, emotional tear and reflex tear.  Basal tears are all times in our eyes and they lubricate, nourish and protect or corona. They keep dirt and debris away. Reflex tears are caused by cold, wind and smoke. They also protect and clear our eyes. The antibodies in them help fight bacteria. The tears gushed in response to strong emotions like sadness, grief, joy or anger is emotional tears. They produce pain and stress reducing chemicals.

 

 

Writing

A. Write a paragraph narrating an event from your life when you were involved in contagious laughter.

 

B. Write a description of your favorite comedian explaining his/her personality, acting, performance and uniqueness.

Ans: - I know many comedian actors throughout the world. Among them I like Nepali comedian Haribansha Acharya the most.  He is the most respected and successful comedians in the Nepalese entertainment industry. He is also famous for singing, writing and his own style of writing. He can perform different positive, negative and comedy roles. He has won hearts of millions of people through his acting, singing and comedies. His acting is marvelous and he can do justice to any kind of role perfectly. He plunges into the character deeply and his character and acting leave long lasting memory in audience. Even I can recall the different roles and voices he created throughout his career. There are varieties in his acting. He comes up with different costumes, physical appearances and voices in different TV serials and movies. His performance is unique and influencing. Despite his several role plays, I never forget the role of 'Hari Bahadur' in the TV serial "Madan Bahadur Hari Bahadur". I like this role very much. He has made the cunning and scoundrel type of character lively. The evil natured role he played is very much apt to such people who spoil the happiness of the whole society.