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Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Dec 3rd 2011 at 12:54:01 PM

I'm going to have to apply for my bachelor thesis soon, and for that, I need a topic. I've recently decided on the direction I want to take it in. I'm studying translation, and since the subject interests me, I want to write about humor, what it is, how it works, what different kinds of humor there are, and thus, what should be considered when translating different kinds of humor. Of course, you could fill a whole book with this subject, and it's more of a subject for a student of social studies, so the thing I'll have to do is to do a commented translation of a text and focus on humor as a translation problem in the commentary.

Now, what I still need is a text.

It should, of course, be an originally English work, but that shouldn't be a problem. The most important thing I need from the text is to have many different kinds of humor within the space of only a few pages.

The main types of humor I differentiate between are "wit" and "humor" (I'll have to come up with better names for these). "Wit" is what I understand to be the kind of humor you can use as a stand-up comedian. It's sharp and powerful and in terms of social powers, it puts the wit above the audience, as he's proving his cleverness. "Humor", on the other hand, is more open and gentle. It's the kind of humor you use between friends, and which is only funny when it is between friends. Nobody would laugh at such a simple joke if it was told by a comedian on a stage, but if it's a friend, or a character you like, you are amused. It's often used in Slice of Life series as it relies on likable characters. It's an equalizing kind of humor used to strengthen emotional bonds.

Those are probably the two main categories that I can create more subcategories for. But yeah, to be able to fit both criteria, it can't be an all too cynical or all too fluffy text. There needs to be a healthy mix.

One of my professors offered to lend me "The Gun Seller" by Hugh Laurie, but I don't know at all if that would fit the bill. I can't think of any books I've read that seem like perfect fits, but I have the suspicion that Good Omens (or most any novel by Terry Pratchett alone) would be a good choice. I'm also wondering if a novel by John Green of vlogbrothers fame would fit the bill.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

WarriorEowyn from Victoria Since: Oct, 2010
#2: Dec 3rd 2011 at 7:03:05 PM

I'd suggest looking at some of Pratchett's Discworld novels and seeing if they work for you. They're heavier on the "wit" than the "humour," though.

If you don't mind kids'/young adult books, Gordan Korman's stuff (the Macdonald Hall books and Son of Interflux in particular) has, I think, a fair amount of both wit and humour.

andrewswafford Since: Nov, 2011
#3: Dec 3rd 2011 at 8:35:31 PM

There is a lot of conversational humor in J.D. Salinger's "Zooey," that may work for you. For "wit," my go-to book is "Breakfast of Champions."

Yuanchosaan antic disposition from Australia Since: Jan, 2010
antic disposition
#4: Dec 4th 2011 at 12:16:03 AM

Might I suggest PG Wodehouse's works, particularly the Jeeves books? There's a television adaptation starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie as well. Wodehouse had a clear influence on Adams, Pratchett, Fry, Laurie and many other British comedians and comic writers.

"Doctor Who means never having to say you're kidding." - Bocaj
Lemurian from Touhou fanboy attic Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Buried in snow, waiting for spring
#5: Dec 4th 2011 at 8:29:42 AM

I second PG Wodehouse and third Terry Pratchett. If translation is the key factor, I would especially recommend Terry Pratchett. Many of his humorous passages play on the English language in a way that I have heard makes him very difficult to translate.

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RalphCrown Short Hair from Next Door to Nowhere Since: Oct, 2010
Short Hair
#6: Dec 5th 2011 at 7:37:08 AM

Wodehouse. No contest.

Under World. It rocks!
Forecharmer Still Forecharmer from Wrong Planet Since: Dec, 2010
Still Forecharmer
#7: Dec 5th 2011 at 9:43:53 AM

I think The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy might work. It has many different kinds of humor, but I think it could mostly consist of satire. I hope it works for you, though. I do know it's popular enough to be translated into several different languages.

Also, there are about five books in the Hitchhikers series, and you may want to read them in order; It may not make sense if you don't start with book one.

In between Not Even Human and Not Quite Human
DomaDoma Three-Puppet Saluter Since: Jan, 2001
Three-Puppet Saluter
#8: Dec 5th 2011 at 10:18:24 AM

I've heard it categorized as "wit" - arch Dorothy Parker stuff; "humor" - a Mark Twain essay; and "buffoonery" - Adam Sandler. I don't think you get a lot of buffoonery in literature; it's too reliant on sight gags.

Anyway, as far as wit (or possibly geek humor) goes, I would recommend Neal Stephenson.

edited 5th Dec '11 10:18:57 AM by DomaDoma

Hail Martin Septim!
Torquey Dreamworks Since: Oct, 2010
Dreamworks
#9: Dec 7th 2011 at 3:06:21 PM

Catch 22 or A Confederacy of Dunces.

Fancolors I draw stuff. from Land of the Mamelucos Since: Nov, 2010
I draw stuff.
#10: Dec 7th 2011 at 3:18:32 PM

Ah, the art of translation...

I remember having once tried to translate Pterry's Small Gods into Portuguese. And I can say that some of his passages can be incredibly hard to translate without making it lose the "wit". Or perhaps I'm just not very articulated. Or both.

Firebert That One Guy from Somewhere in Illinois Since: Jan, 2001
DoktorvonEurotrash Lex et Veritas from Not a place of honour (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#12: Dec 8th 2011 at 1:41:58 AM

The Swedish translation of Discworld is very good (though even it loses the occasional joke). A lot of the time, its translators simply replace the pun (reference, etc.) with another one that works in Swedish.

For the OP: is that your own definition of the distinction between "wit" and "humour", or is it an established definition? I can't say I've heard it before. But then, I haven't been studying comedy...

edited 8th Dec '11 1:42:09 AM by DoktorvonEurotrash

JHM Apparition in the Woods from Niemandswasser Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hounds of love are hunting
Apparition in the Woods
#13: Dec 22nd 2011 at 5:32:23 PM

Well, on the somewhat more twisted, situational end of things, there's always A Confederacy Of Dunces.

I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
Gray64 Since: Dec, 1969
#14: Dec 25th 2011 at 11:41:52 PM

Let me add my vote for Wodehouse, and not only for Jeeves and Wooster. Everything the man wrote was damned funny.

Jimmmyman10 cannot into space from polan Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
cannot into space
#15: Dec 26th 2011 at 5:06:46 AM

Suggest you should probably have a couple. Go with Pratchet or Douglas Adams, because they are modern. However, it might also be a good idea to go with something older...

Oh! Alice In Wonderland! Virtually impossible to translate, due to its incredibly deep puns and wordplay!

edited 26th Dec '11 5:07:11 AM by Jimmmyman10

Go play Kentucky Route Zero. Now.
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