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is down-to-earth. Someone breaks a leg. In the end the bully is beaten up, and so on.
(6) There is, nevertheless, considerable common ground between Chinese and western humour with 'international jokes', both verbal and non-verbal, such as those acted out by an artiste like Mr Bean. His jokes cross frontiers easily. Hong Kong's martial art's expert, Jackie Chan, also includes slapstick in his acting. For much of the time Chinese and Westerners can and do laugh at the same jokes.
(7) Humour can be lowbrow or highbrow, the latter delivering a message or a moral lesson regarding, say, the 'evils' of pomposity or politics.
(8) Ribald, bawdy and scatologic jokes have been common throughout the ages, and still are today, both among Chinese and Westerners.
(9) In Chinese society there are taboo subjects, such as jokes about mothers-in-law and death.
(10) Making fun of various sub-ethnic groups, the under-privileged and the handicapped, like cripples and eunuchs, is more and more considered in poor taste.
(11) Chinese is a rich language, especially the Cantonese dialect with its marked tonal differences. This lends itself to punning and the clever use of ambiguity.
(12) There is a wealth of humour in Chinese literature, everyday expressions and conversation.
(13) The pointed barb, directly confronting a Chinese, is less common than among Westerners, largely because it can result in a loss of face.
(14) Not only is a constant diet of humour good for both Westerners and Chinese, but the laugh or giggle can help relieve stress or tension just as it can bolster soldiers in battle.
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is down-to-earth. Someone breaks a leg. In the end the bully is beaten up, and so on.
(6) There is, nevertheless, considerable common ground between Chinese and western humour with 'international jokes', both verbal and non-verbal, such as those acted out by an artiste like Mr Bean. His jokes cross frontiers easily. Hong Kong's martial art's expert, Jackie Chan, also includes slapstick in his acting. For much of the time Chi- nese and Westerners can and do laugh at the same jokes.
(7) Humour can be lowbrow or highbrow, the latter delivering a message or a moral lesson regarding, say, the 'evils' of pomposity or politics.
(8) Ribald, bawdy and scatologic jokes have been common through- out the ages, and still are today, both among Chinese and Westerners.
(9) In Chinese society there are taboo subjects, such as jokes about mothers-in-law and death.
(10) Making fun of various sub-ethnic groups, the under-privi- leged and the handicapped, like cripples and eunuchs, is more and more considered in poor taste.
(11) Chinese is a rich language, especially the Cantonese dialect with its marked tonal differences. This lends itself to punning and the clever use of ambiguity.
(12) There is a wealth of humour in Chinese literature, everyday expressions and conversation.
(13) The pointed barb, directly confronting a Chinese, is less com- mon than among Westerners, largely because it can result in a loss of face.
(14) Not only is a constant diet of humour good for both Western- ers and Chinese, but the laugh or giggle can help relieve stress or ten- sion just as it can bolster soldiers in battle.
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