SLEDGING AUSSIES AND CATTY BRITS CULTURAL VARIABILITY IN (NOT) TAKING OFFENCE TO JOCULARITY VALERIA SINKEVICIUTE IPRA RESEARCH CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP, BELGIUM
OUTLINE Jocular verbal behaviours in Australian and British cultural contexts: Not taking yourself too seriously. Data: Big Brother 2012; Qualitative interviews. Differences between the Australian and British data sets: Self-deprecation and taking the piss out of someone; Negative reactions to attempts at jocularity.
JOCULAR VERBAL BEHAVIOURS Teasing, jocular mockery, jocular abuse, banter, etc. (Boxer and Cortés-Conde 1997; Holmes 2000; Schnurr 2009; Haugh 2010; Schnurr and Chan 2011Haugh and Bousfield 2012; Sinkeviciute 2013). Australian and British cultural contexts: Not taking yourself too seriously being able to laugh at yourself (Goddard 2009, 2012; Haugh 2010, 2011; Sinkeviciute 2014); Suspend face demands [ ] to get a laugh (Zajdman 1995: 326); The target evaluates potentially impolite/offensive verbal behaviours as non-impolite (Haugh and Bousfield 2012; Sinkeviciute 2014); Offence (if taken) is likely to be claimed implicitly (Haugh 2015).
DATA: BIG BROTHER BBAU 2012 BBUK 2012 Broadcast dates Days, hours August 13 to November 7 87 days, 58 hours June 5 to August 13 70 days, 55 hours Number of participants 14 + 2 intruders 16 + 1 wildcard
DATA: QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS Australian interviewees British interviewees Number 16 19 Gender Male (8), Female (8) Male (11), Female (8) Age 19-61 22-56 Level of education High School (2), Undergraduate (10), Graduate (4) High School (2), Undergraduate (11), Graduate (6)
JOCULAR VERBAL BEHAVIOURS Self-deprecation; Taking the piss/mickey out of someone.
SELF-DEPRECATION (1) Brits & Aussies are blessed with a limitless capacity for self-mockery (Sharp 2012: 88; Penney 2012: 35; Haugh 2010, 2014); one s ability to laugh at one s own foibles and weaknesses (Martin 2007: 16; Fox 2004); a laudable personality trait (Kuiper and Martin 2007; Goddard 2009) and a positive social quality (Cann and Calhoun 2001; Chandler and Griffiths 2013: 40).
SELF-DEPRECATION (2) It can manifest itself in two distinct ways: being willing to engage in self-targeting jocularity or recognise yourself in humour directed at the whole nation s traits and idiosyncrasies;
[1] Deborah (UK): [...] on the most part we will find a lot of the same jokes funny I think we are able to laugh at ourselves and our cultures [...] self-deprecating [...] we have that in common [...]
SELF-DEPRECATION (2) It can manifest itself in two distinct ways: being willing to engage in self-targeting jocularity or recognise yourself in humour directed at the whole nation s traits and idiosyncrasies; being able to laugh at yourself reveals itself is when one becomes a target of someone s jocular verbal behaviour and actually manages to take a joke.
[2] Rachel (UK): I think people like people that can laugh at themselves (..) who have a sense of humour and can recognise (.) but it s depends if you re being- (..) if it s a joke if someone s joking with you or if it s a joke at your expense [...] [3] Ray (UK): [...] humour for its own sake when it comes of the expense of somebody that s not a good thing so () is not () () because it tends to work on a personal level so there s always a scapegoat and I don t I don t like anything that s a scapegoat
[4] Dale (AU): [5] Amanda (AU): that s one difference is their humour [...]they don t they don t sort of (..) not attack or it s not attacking but erm they won t use someone else as a point of humour as much as say an Australian does like we ll we ll use friends anyone basically anyone we can use as a joke we can we will not as in being rude to them but that s just how it works [...] if they re having a laugh at your expense and then you say something back even if you did find it offensive and it wasn t that offensive then other people were gonna () the same just have a go at you for taking yourself too seriously
TAKING THE PISS (1) Associated with teasing or mockery: jocularly making the target believe something that is untrue;
[6] UK Caroline and Chris do not get on well with each other. Some housemates together with Chris decide to tease Caroline and make her believe that Chris is interested in her. After some time listening to the housemates arguments in favour of a private meeting, Caroline does not believe it is true. Chris: I m not gonna lie I m so attracted to you yes Caroline: = you re joking you re obviously joking = HM: = [laughs] = Chris: you re my type I like posh girls sorry I do like a posh girl and = that s why I like your (outfit) = Caroline: = are you all taking the piss? = Lydia: honestly Caroline Chris: it s hurting me now cause if you find it funny [...]
TAKING THE PISS (2) Associated with teasing or mockery: jocularly making the target believe something that is untrue; or, more frequently, by sending somebody up, i.e. making the target look silly.
[7] UK Adam, Deana and Luke A are talking about Luke S. They remember a prank that was played on him and he was lead to believe that a model agency was interested in him. The housemates found it hilarious, but Luke S was not amused. Luke A shares his opinion: Luke A: Adam: he couldn t even see the funny side of that like as in taking the piss out of him (..) it can be like because he s taking himself so = seriously = = seriously = yeah [8] Rowena (UK): [...] I think she is almost taking the mickey a bit out of erm Sara [...] trying to make her look a bit silly [...]
TAKING THE PISS (3) Associated with teasing or mockery: jocularly making the target believe something that is untrue; or, more frequently, by sending somebody up, i.e. making the target look silly. In Australia: a form of a social corrective; ridicule, jocular mockery or teasing that arises from an alleged infringement of normative behaviour on the part of the target (Haugh and Bousfield 2012: 1106).
[9] Alicia (AU): well actually there s yeah something at work a couple of months ago someone tried to make a joke can t remember what it was but I didn t take it well but they kept sort of not not as heavily as the initial joke was but lightly touching the subject in a joking way and we re ok now erm but yeah they did keep like pushing it in a way until I guess I got over {[smile voice] myself} [hahahaha] I got over the seriousness of myself in a way
NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO ATTEMPTS AT JOCULARITY Impolite jocularity (BBAU) - association with a negative name/person/group/activity; - breach of social norms /taboo topics; - shifting the facts (on purpose); Impolite jocularity (BBUK) - association with a negative name/person/group/activity; - breach of social norms /taboo topics; - shifting the facts (on purpose); - excluding (AU); - criticising one s body/personal items - (singling out someone as) being better (making one insecure) (UK); (AU). - reminding of a painful experience (UK).
EXCLUDING (AU) [10] Previously to this conversation, Ray jokingly called Ben (who is gay) a poof. They have not talked for a few days and Ben decides to confront Ray, who evaluates his own behaviour: Ray: I thought you d laugh it offbut you kind of then it separated you a bit from the group and I felt really really horrible about itand I apologise with all my heart and I m sorry I did it
BEING BETTER (AU)
[11a] Housemates talk about the week s task they have just passed where all but one housemate (Sam) could party and feast on chocolates and lollies. Angie, Bradley, Estelle, Michael and Sam are in the lounge. Angie says that she would be very upset if it was her who would miss all the fun and sweets. Estelle seems not to have enjoyed chocolate. Estelle: I need more vegetables Angie: uh Estelle: you may survive on sugar I don t (.) = I mean I d survive but (.) = Angie: = I don t () survive on sugar = Estelle: == I mean it s not luxury Angie: == I m pretty sure my body needs something other than sugar pr- possibly protein and = () = Michael: = hehehe = Estelle: {[playful smile voice] you re a sugar fairy (though)} Angie: I don t think I am Estelle: you are a sugar fairy Angie: I enjoy sugar Michael and Sam: [leave the lounge] Bradley: you know do you wanna (go) to the kitchen and make some food? Angie: yeah ok Angie and Bradley: [leave the lounge] Estelle: [stays alone in the lounge, lying on the floor]
[11b] Angie is talking to Bradley in the kitchen: [...] she s like I know that you only rely on sugar but I need something else I m like you re not better than me just because I appreciate the funny things in life [...]
CRITICISING ONE S BODY/PERSONAL ITEMS (UK) [12a] Ashleigh is choosing what to wear: Scott: oh Ashleigh Becky: whose funeral is it Conor: [laughs] Becky: (only) joking Ashleigh: {[slightly smiling] Becks (.) you make me really insecure sometimes} Becky: you know somebody- Scott: == {[giggling] tell me about it} Ashleigh: {[showing Becky her hand] (stop) fuck off} [12b] Later that day Ashleigh speaks to Scott, sharing her feelings: Ashleigh: sometimes she can make you feel like so small Scott: I know because she said she didn t like my jeans and I got really upset about it Ashleigh: she does make you feel like like you re a piece of shit she won t say it in a nice way she ll say it in the most cruellest way ever
REMINDING OF A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE (UK) [13] UK Housemates scream and laugh watching Luke S s photo shoot. Luke S smiles at first, but after a few moments covers his face with his hands: Adam: {[smiling and pointing at the screen} oh my god oh my god} Conor: {[laughing] the tennis () was disgusting} *part of the interaction omitted* Conor: {[laughing] tennis was the worst} Luke S: {[screaming] turn them off} Adam: () all night all night long Ashleigh: {[smiling] they are so funny} Luke S: no far from it Ashleigh: I love them Luke S: I fucking (hate them) Ashleigh: shut up Luke S: I ve never been so embarrassed in my life Conor: [hehehe] {[laughing] the worst I ve ever seen}
CONCLUSIONS Not taking yourself too seriously in an Australian and British cultural contexts: Self-deprecation: Mocking one s own foibles, culture, etc.; Being able to laugh at someone jocularly targeting you (AU). Taking the piss: Saying something that is untrue; making someone look silly; A social corrective (AU). Impolite jocular behaviours: Australia: social harmony related (exclusion, being better); UK: person-related (targeting one s body, reminding of a painful experience).
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