the Nilsens

1. 1
V.A.R.I.E.S.
Language and Humor Variation
by Don and Alleen Nilsen

2. 2
BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
• There are various ways of saying basically the same
thing, but the words we use tell stories about who
we are.
• Humorous language takes advantage of our
differences. It’s often these very differences that
make a joke funny.
• Linguists use the S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G. or the V.A.R.I.E.S.
models of language and humor variation to describe
the important differences that are exhibited amongst
speakers in our society.

3. 3
S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G. MODEL
by John Gumpers and Dell Hymes
• S-Setting
• P-Participants
• E-Ends
• A-Act Sequence
• K-Key Tone or Mood
• I-Instrumentalities (writing vs. speech)
• N-Norms (expectations of the situation)
• G-Genre (e-mail, chant, research paper)

4. 4
V.A.R.I.E.S. MODEL
by Don and Alleen Nilsen
• V-VOCATIONAL JARGON AND HUMOR
– Computer Guys, Doctors, Lawyers, Linguists, Teachers
• A-AGE-RELATED LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Children, Teenagers, Old People
• R-REGIONAL LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– California, Canada, New York, South
• I-INFORMAL OR FORMAL LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Casual Acquaintances, Lovers, Friends, Relatives
• E-ETHNIC LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Blacks, Indians, Jews, Mexicans
• S-SEX-RELATED LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
– Males, Females, Lesbians, Gays

5. Vocational Humor:
Anthropologist Humor
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6. Business Humor
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7. Computer Humor
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8. Medical Humor
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9. Lawyer Humor
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10. Linguistic Humor
10

11. Literary Scholar Humor
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12. Mathematician Humor
12

13. Psychologist Humor
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14. Sociologist Humor
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15. Teacher Humor
15

16. Age-Related Humor:
Baby Humor
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17. Children’s Humor
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18. Teenager Humor
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19. Old Person Humor
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20. Really Old Person Humor
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21. Regional Humor
21

22. American Dialect Society
American Dialect Society:
http://americandialect.org/
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23. Australian Humor
Lost Baggage:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=youtube+australia+lost+baggage&view=detail&mid=C9207D3C358B582
8C7D8C9207D3C358B5828C7D8&FORM=VIRE
23

24. British Humor
Accents and Archetypes of Great Britain:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=youtube+british+dialects&view=detail&mid=2DDBFA52A6AC272F4D9D
2DDBFA52A6AC272F4D9D&FORM=VIRE
24

25. New England Humor
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26. Southern Humor
26

27. Surfer Dude Humor (California)
27

28. Valley Girl Humor (California)
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29. Western Humor
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30. Canadian Humor
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31. Informal or Formal Humor: Intimate
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32. Casual
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33. Formal
33

34. Frozen
In The Five Clocks, Martin Joos
distinguished between five forms
of communication:
Intimate
Casual
Consultative
Formal and
Frozen
34

35. Ethnic Humor
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36. Hispanic Humor
Dia de Los Muertos
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37. Asian Humor
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38. Black Humor
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39. Jewish Humor
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40. Mormon Humor
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41. Sex-Related Humor:
Men’s Humor
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42. Women’s Humor
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43. Gay Humor
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44. Lesbian Humor
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45. Transvestite Humor
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46. Now it’s your turn. Tell us some jokes that relate to the
V.A.R.I.E.S. Model
• V-VOCATIONAL JARGON
– Computer Guys, Doctors, Lawyers, Linguists, Teachers
• A-AGE-RELATED LANGUAGE
– Children, Teenagers, Old People
• R-REGIONAL LANGUAGE
– California, Canada, New York, South
• I-INFORMAL OR FORMAL LANGUAGE
– Casual Acquaintances, Lovers, Friends, Relatives
• E-ETHNIC LANGUAGE
– Blacks, Indians, Jews, Mexicans
• S-SEX-RELATED LANGUAGE
– Males, Females, Lesbians, Gays 46