PUN-BASED JOKES

IN MOVIES
And the problem of their translation
Dirk Delabastita
(born 1960)
• Belgian linguist, PhD

• Professor of English literature

and literary theory

• University of Namur

The iconic study:

Traductio: Essays on punning

and translation (1997)
 What is pun?

Pun is a type of wordplay, where multiple

word meanings are used simultaneously for the
creation of comic effect.
 Homographic pun

Homophonic pun Homonymic pun

Types of puns

Merger pun Compound pun

Recursive pun
Movies under
study

• “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-

2019)

• “Friends” (1994-2004)

• “Click” (2006)
 Translation strategies

a) pun to pun b) pun to non-pun c) pun to related

rhetorical device

the search of a rendering the using various

corresponding sense with the rhetorical devices
pun in TL help of a non-
punning phrase
EXAMPLES
 Pun to pun

– My father’s stereo is a
Bose.
– Your father’s stereo blows?
That’s too bad!

– У моего папы стоит

магнитола Боуз.
– Стоит? Значит она
отстой!

“Click”
 Pun to non-pun

– Make a choice. Pick a lane.

– Who’s Elaine?

– Сделай выбор. Выбери

дорогу.
– Какую дорогу?

“Friends” S4E7
 Pun to related
rhetorical device

– That is PhDelicious!

– То, что доктор защитил!

“The Big Bang Theory” S12E11

THANK YOU
for your attention