Humor 2014; 27(3): 461 – 480 Nathan Miczo Analyzing structure and function in humor: Preliminary sketch of a message-centered model Abstract: Utilizing Attardo’s general theory of verbal humor and Meyer’s rhetori- cal functions of humor, as well as insights from conversation analysis, this paper presents a model linking form and function in conversational humor. In the model, an initial pair of incongruous scripts (i.e., a script opposition) is activated as membership categories are referenced in the set-up. The punch- or jab-line introduces a second script opposition that “resolves” or makes sense out of the irst opposition in terms of preference organization (presenting either a preferred or dispreferred response). When examining conversational humor, those prefer- ences have implications in terms of uniting or dividing interlocutors. If the reso- lution aligns with the preferred entity/activity of the set-up, then the efect should be unifying. If the resolution does not align (i.e., is dispreferred), then the efect should be divisive. The model is used to analyze two jokes and two conversational sequences. Keywords: general theory of verbal humor, humor functions, membership cate- gorization, preference organization DOI 10.1515/humor-2014-0073 1 Introduction When people talk, or engage in other forms of symbolic activity, they invoke and refer to more general categories of objects. These membership categories (Sacks 1992) contain descriptions, projected lines of action, and evaluations of expected and appropriate ways of being in the world. As a form of symbol use, humor should be no less subject to these requirements than anything else. Lloyd (2011) recently demonstrated how membership categorization analysis (MCA) could be used to analyze humorous captions to New Zealand’s “Naked Man” cartoons. More generally, there have been eforts by conversation analytic researchers to Nathan Miczo: Western Illinois University. E-mail: n-miczo@wiu.edu Authenticated | n-miczo@wiu.edu author's copy Download Date | 8/5/14 3:16 PM