第一篇:探析英語中的幽默文化
摘要:幽默是英語的重要組成部分,幽默反映英語文化,反映了英語文化中的價值、偏見以及現實等。英語幽默產生的根源多種多樣,有修辭格的巧妙運用,有對語用中合作原則的違反,也有因詞匯、語法、句法歧義而產生。文章從英語語音的角度出發,分析了英語幽默的語音根源,即同音異義、諧音、音渡、斯普納首音誤置、語音停頓和重音。
關鍵詞:英語幽默;語音;成因
幽默從大體上說是語言藝術,幽默語義必須以語音為載體。本文將從以下幾個方面來分析英語中產生幽默的語音因素。
一、同音異義
(一)同音同形異義
英語中存在一定數量的詞,它們的拼寫及讀音一樣,但是它們并不是同一個詞,所以意思或詞性都不盡相同。利用這一現象可以產生幽默。
A:What do lawyers do after their death?
B:They lie still.“躺著”與“撒謊”這兩個詞在英語中都拼為lie,此處利用了這一對同形同音異義詞生動地揭露了資本主義社會中,律師欺騙撒謊的本性是不可改變的。
Thomson(flatly):Massachusetts says yes.Rhode Island Mr.Hopkins? Where′s Rhode Island?
Menair:Rhode Island is out visiting the necessary.Hancock:I’m surprised.We′ll come back to him.Thomson:Rhode Island passes.(laughter)
(Thomson looks around,not understandably then proceeds.)
以上引自劇本《1776》,再現了美國第二次大陸會議通過美國獨立時的情景。各州代表輪流發言,輪到羅德愛蘭州時,其代表霍普金斯恰好出去解手。于是湯姆森宣布Rhode Island passes,全場哄堂大笑,因為pass一詞有兩層含義,一層是先擱一下,回頭再征求他的意見,另一層含義是解手。說者無心,聽者有意,鬧出了大笑話。
The judge noticed a disturbance in the back of the courtroom.“What’s going on there?” He shouted.“I’ve lost my jacket and I’m trying to find it.” replied a young teenager.“Son,”smiled the judge,“people often lose whole suits here without all that fuss.”
suit有兩種意思:一是指套裝,一是指訴訟案件。在這則幽默中,法官巧妙地利用suit的這兩種含義來取笑這位大驚小怪的年輕人。
(二)同音異形異義
在現代英語的詞匯中,同音而異義的詞數量很大,為歧義的產生提供了大量的原始素材。例如rain和reign,sighs和size等,它們發音完全相同,只是拼寫和意思不同。由同音異形異義觸發的幽默句子屢見不鮮。例如:
“My daughter has arranged a little piece for the piano.”
“Good,it’s about time we had a little peace.”
此例中,主人想讓女兒為客人彈一曲,而客人卻認為可以休息一會兒了。由于piece與peace發音相同,但拼法意義不同,因而引起客人的誤解,產生了毫不相干的答語,使人忍俊不禁。
Seven days without water makes one weak.這個句子中除seven days外的各個成份都有歧義。without water字面上的意思是“無水,不喝水”,而在句子中的意思是“不折不扣”;make也有雙層意思,如果后面接復合賓語,作“使…成為”解,此處后面接簡單賓語,作“構成”解;one既可泛指任何人,也可指“一個”;weak作形容詞充當賓語補足語表示“虛弱”,又與week(一周)同音,這一同音異義詞是構成這一雙關句子的觸機(trigger),即促成這一雙關語的關鍵因素。這句子讀起來既有“七天不喝水使人虛弱”的意思,又有“不折不扣的七天就是一周”之意,幽默中蘊含深意,句子的表現力大大地增強了。
“You’re not eating your fish,”the waitress asks him,“Anything wrong with it?”
“Long time no sea,”the customer replies.long time no see是久別的朋友見面時所用的寒暄語,顧客利用see和sea這對同音異義詞,巧妙地指出了餐桌上的魚不新鮮,叫人忍俊不禁的同時也為這一顧客的機智拍案叫絕。
二、諧音
諧音詞指那些發音相似但拼寫和意義不同的詞匯,如:fiscally—physically,red—read,這種現象也是產生幽默的常見手段。諧音雙關是其主要的表現形式,它可使同一句話可同時表達不同意義,以造成語言生動活潑、幽默詼諧或嘲弄譏諷的修辭效果,使人讀來忍俊不禁。
Six-year-old Linda returned unimpressed from her school.First day at school,asked how she got on,she replied,“Every morning,we all have to sit at our desks and when the teacher calls our names,we have to answer prisoner!”
當老師點名時,學生必須回答“present”。例中,Linda故意利用“prisoner”與“present”發音相似這一特點,制造了一點小幽默。從中我們也可以感受到她對學校生活的不滿和抱怨。
More sun and air for your son and heir.在這則海濱浴場的宣傳廣告中,制作者巧妙地運用了sun—son這對同音異形異義詞和一對諧音詞air—heir,使廣告語言不僅和諧悅耳,讀來朗朗上口,而且頗風趣、幽默,具有感召力。
She receives a long-distance call person to person for Mrs.I.A.Pologize.intoned the operator.這是個溫馨的小故事,丈夫同妻子吵架后乘飛機到外地,途中后悔自己傷害了妻子,于是打長途電話回家道歉。這位聰明的丈夫想出一個既能道歉又不失面子的好辦法。他特意編造了一個姓名I.A.Pologize,通過接線員略加拖長的誦讀,再加上person-to-person就等于說I apologize person to person(我親自道歉)。
三、音渡
音渡也叫連音,是音節或單詞之間的停頓或連接。“音渡是美國結構學派語言學家在分析英語語音系統時認為可以區分詞與詞的界限,因而也可以影響語義的一種特征”(桂燦昆)。音節可以不帶停頓地密切相連稱為閉連音(close juncture)或者也可以松散地相連稱為開連音(open juncture),由于存在著開連音與閉連音的區別,有時會出現同一個讀音可以有開連音與閉連音兩種不同理解而產生歧義的情況。例如:
I scream ['ai+skri: m]我尖叫
ice cream ['ais+ kri: m]冰淇淋
Why choose [hwai+ tFu:z]為什么選擇
white shoes [hwait+Fu:z]白鞋子
下面兩個幽默故事便屬于這種情況。
“I understand you are getting along nicely in English” said a fellow to a foreign-exchange student,“what about syntax?”“Gosh,” said the student,“I didn’t know there was one!”
學生之所以對 “句法 syntax學得怎么樣?”這一很平常的問句感到吃驚,是因為他錯將閉連音[sIntAks]syntax理解為開連音[sIn +tAks] sin tax(犯罪稅)于是對方的問話便被理解為“犯罪稅學得怎么樣?”犯罪還需納稅,難怪這個學生會吃驚。
One evening a woman who lived in the country telephoned to her doctor to ask advice on reducing her husband’s high fever.The doctor told her to put some ice on her husband’s forehead,the next day when the doctor came to inquire about husband,the woman said that the fever had gone down,only that all mice were dead.幽默產生的原因在于這位妻子將醫生所說的 some ice理解為 some mice 即:將閉連音[sEm+ aIs]錯誤地理解為開連音[sEm + maIs],留下了用老鼠退燒的笑柄。
四、斯普納首音誤置
斯普納首音誤置現象是一個專業術語。通俗來說,首音誤置現象由單詞的輔音交錯互換而成,類似漢語中“楓葉紅了”被說成“紅葉瘋了”的那個笑話。這種現象由威廉姆·阿奇博爾德·斯普納創造。斯普納曾任牛津新學院院長和學監,經常把若干單詞的輔音部分交錯發音,說出十分有趣的句子。直到現在,牛津新學院還有一個房間被命名為“斯普納房”來紀念這位有趣的老人。
現在,斯普納現象已不僅限于首音誤置,還出現單詞其他部分誤置的現象。《每日郵報》列舉了最廣為流傳的首音誤置例子。斯普納想對學生說:Sir,you have wasted two terms先生,你已經浪費了兩個學期;You missed my history lecture.我的歷史課你總是缺席;You were caught for lighting a fire in the quadrangle.你在院子里放火被抓。但由于斯普納現象的作用,這句話聽上去就變味了:Sir,you have tasted two worms.先生,你已經吃了兩條蟲子;You hissed my mystery lecture.你在我每節神秘課上都發出噓聲;You were caught for fighting a liar in the quadrangle.你在院子里和說謊者打架被抓;他還把英國的農民稱作“noble tons of soil”(noble sons of toil)。
斯普納首音誤置現象是一個專業術語。通俗來說,首音誤置現象由單詞的輔音交錯互換而成,類似漢語中“楓葉紅了”被說成“紅葉瘋了”的那個笑話。
五、語音停頓
停頓是節奏的特殊處理,是語流中聲音的頓時中斷,它與音長有關。停頓可表達意義。例如,John said the teacher is a fool會因為說話者不同的停頓,便產生意思截然相反的兩句話。一方面可理解為:John said,the teacher is a fool.所以全句意思為“John說老師是傻子”。但另一方面,該句也可讀為:John,said the teacher,is a fool.該句又變為“老師說John是傻子”。
除因邏輯表達、語法強調的需求要作正常的停頓之外,還可以故作違反常規的停頓,以獲得幽默的特殊表達效果。例如:
As a serious young man,I loved Beethoven,Keats,and—hot dogs.作為一個“serious young man”,熱愛音樂和詩均屬精神生活方面高層次愛好,但后面跟上“hot dogs”,而且“hot dogs”前有個時間的停頓,這表面看來有點不倫不類,實際上不無道理:當一個人的興趣集中在高層次的文化藝術上時,對吃喝就不太在意了,因而喜歡快餐食品就在情理之中。那么停頓之后實際上設下圈套,然后意義突轉,語義前后反差強烈,產生了幽默效果。
六、重音
英語的詞重音,就每個英語單詞而言,重音位置確是固定的,就整體而言,屬于自由重音,重音位置不同,句子有不同含義,甚至會引起歧義。重音的不同而導致的歧義最典型的例子如:That’s all I know,根據強調的側重點不同,該句可以有四種不同的含義:That’s all I know.那是我知道的一切,說明我就知道那些。That’s all I know.也許還有其他什么事,但這是我知道的一切。That’s all I know.那是我所知道的一切。That’s all I know.那是我知道的一切,其他人也許知道得更多。故意變換重音位置會導致歧義,從而產生幽默。有一次,一位外國使者看見林肯在擦自己的皮鞋,贊揚說:“Mr.President,do you often shine your shoes yourself?”林肯回答道:“Yes.Then whose shoe do you often shine by yourself?”林肯巧用“yourself”在不同的位置重讀所表示的不同的意義,重點轉移,妙語生輝。
參考文獻:
1、董黎.英語幽默集萃[M].外語教學與研究出版社,1992.2、桂燦昆.美國英語應用語音學[M].上海外語教育出版社,1985.3、何善芬.實用英語語音學[M].北京師范大學出版社,1992.4、胡范疇.幽默語言學[M].社會科學出版社,1987.5、呂光旦.英語幽默——理解與欣賞[M].上海外語教育出版社,1990.6、邱述德.英語歧義[M].商務印書館,1998.
第二篇:幽默文化
如何形成幽默思維
幾個周的學習,從課堂上了解到了幽默不僅可以通過語言來表現,還可以通過肢體等方面來表達。幽默是一種文化,是一種哲學,透過它可以改善我們的人際交往,使我們的生活變得簡單而快樂,取得與眾不同的結果。幽默是一種大智慧,主要表現在機智、自嘲、調侃、風趣等,考驗著一個人的心理素質和綜合能力,一個懂得幽默的人往往能起到力挽狂瀾的作用。而我們又如何形成幽默思維?
首先我們應理解幽默這個詞,其實正如蕭伯納所說“幽默的定義是不能下的,這是使人發笑的一種元素”,但我們完全可以從它最基本的層面去定義去理解。幽默富于感情,是一種能激發起人類心理某種情感的智慧,不只是為了取笑他人,幽默能夠悄然間化解雙方間的尷尬,給人營造一種輕松的空間,予人以樂觀、豁達。
現在幽默已經形成了一種文化,一直存在于我們的身邊影響著我們。或許在與他人交談時因別人的一些語言而突然發笑,也許因為他人夸張的肢體語言而吃驚笑而不語,有時在一些場合突然看見某種不合理的存在而禁不住笑。生活中處處存在著幽默,讓我們嘆為觀止。相對而言我們更需要這樣一種幽默思維去改變身邊一些生硬不和的處境。
還記得看過的周星馳“無厘頭”的電影嗎?《大話西游》中周星馳以大胡子的形象出現,不合常理的出鏡,以及那些微妙的語言組織都令我們合不攏嘴。還有吳孟達夸張的穿著和張牙舞爪的表演,每一幕各一個場景都令我們啼笑皆非。又如卓別林的無聲電影,他一頂小帽、一個手杖、腳穿大足鞋以及鴨子式的走路方法,一個流浪漢的形象,用他精湛的演技和高超的表現方法將幽默表現的淋漓盡致。
還記得曾經看過的《賣拐》《不差錢》《昨天今天明天》等等趙本山大叔的作品嗎?他以小品的方式來表現真實社會存在的一些現象,用看似輕松卻耐人尋味的語言來表達自己的理解。他用自己的方式表達著自己對生活、對人生、對藝術的深刻理解和感悟,準確地抓住了各種人物的轉折關系,也準確地抓住觀眾心理和情緒,每一句話、每一字都能和觀眾的心理合上拍。還有現在一些電視脫口秀,像郭德綱、王自健那些主持人不正是用各自的語言巧妙的表達著自己的理解卻令人禁不住發笑。
幽默其實很簡單,只要在合適的場合開著合適的人的玩笑就是一種幽默。就像著名心理學家弗洛伊德說的“笑話,基于我們快感,是通過把一個充滿能量和緊張度的有意識過程轉化為一個輕松的無意識過程”。幽默是讓每一個人都能發笑,也需要合適的表達方式特定的場合下才能產生不同一般的效果,它需要文化的許可,環境的許可以及每一個人的認同,而并不是為了搞笑而搞笑,不然就會起到適得其反的效果。
第三篇:幽默英語
英語幽默對話buy you a drink?(我可以為你買一杯飲料嗎?)女:Actually I'd rather have the money.(不必,我我寧愿留下那些錢.)
經典對話二:
男:Can I have your name?(直譯:我能有你的名字嗎?)
女:Why? Don't you already have one?(為什么?你不是已經有一個了嗎?)經典對話三:
男:I'm a photographer.I've been looking for a face like yours.(我是攝影師。我一直在尋找一張像你這樣的臉。)
女:I'm a plastic surgeon.I've been looking for a face like yours.(我是整形外科醫生。我也一直在尋找一張像你這樣的臉。)
經典對話四:
男:Is this seat empty?(直譯:這個座位是空的吧?)
女:Yes, and this one will be if you sit down.(是的,如果你坐下,我的座位就是空的。)經典對話五:
男:Haven't I seen you some place before?(我好像以前在什么地方見過你?)
女:Yes.That's why I don't go there anymore.(是的。這就是為什么我不再去那個地方的原因。)
經典對話六:
男:Will you go out with me this Saturday?(這個星期六你想跟我出去嗎?)女:Sorry.I'm having a headache this weekend.(抱歉。這個周末我頭疼。)經典對話七:
男:I think I could make you very happy.(我想我能讓你非常快樂。)
女:Why? Are you leaving?(是嗎?你是說你要離開?)
第四篇:英語幽默
The six-year-old John was terribly spoiled(被寵壞的).His father knew it, but his grandma doted on him.He hardly left her side.And when he wanted anything, he either cried or threw a temper tantrum(亂發脾氣).Then came his first day of school, his first day away from his grandmother's loving arms.When he came home from school his grandma met him at the door.Was school all right? she asked, Did you get along all right? did you cry?
Cry? John asked.No, I didn't cry, but the teacher did!
六歲的約翰嬌生慣養。他的父親知道這一點,可他的祖父母仍然寵著他。這孩子幾乎寸步不離他的祖母。他想要什么不是哭,就是鬧。他第一天上學才離開祖母的懷抱。約翰放學了,他奶奶在門口接他并問道:學校怎么樣?你過的好嗎?哭了沒有?哭?約翰問,不,我沒哭,可老師哭了。
Englishman
Once, late at night, an Englishman came out of his room into the corridor of a hotel and asked the servant to bring him a glass of water.The servant did as he was asked.The Englishman re-entered his room, but a few minutes later he came into the corridor again and once more asked the servant for a glass of water.The servant brought him another glass of water.Every few minutes the Englishmen would come out of his room and repeat his request.After a half-hour the astonished servant decided to ask the Englishman what he was doing with the water.“Nothing,” the Englishman answered imperturbably, “It’s simply that my room is on fire.”一個英國人
一天晚上,一個英國人從他住的旅店房間里走出來。來到走廊上,叫旅店的服務員給他拿一杯水來。服務員按他的要求做了。英國人回到了他的房間里,幾分鐘后 他又來到走廊上,讓服務員再給他送一杯水。服務員又給他送了一杯水。每隔幾分鐘。英國人就走出房間重復他的要求。半小時之后.這位感到驚訝的服務員決定問問房客要這些水干什么,英國人不謊不忙地回答:”沒什么.只不過是我的房間里起火了。“
A film crew was on location deep in the desert.One day an old Indian went up to the director and said, “Tomorrow rain.” The next day it rained.A week later, the Indian went up to the director and said, “Tomorrow storm.” The next day there was a hailstorm.“This Indian is incredible,” said the director.He told his secretary to hire the Indian to predict the weather.However, after several successful predictions, the old Indian didn't show up for two weeks.Finally the director sent for him.“I have to shoot a big scene tomorrow,” said the director, “and I'm depending on you.What will the weather be like?”The Indian shrugged his shoulders.“Don't know,” he said.“Radio is broken.”
天氣預報
一個電影攝制組在沙漠深處工作.一天,一個印度老人到導演跟前告訴導演說“明天下雨.”第二天果然下雨了.一周后,印度人又來告訴導演說,“明天有風暴.”果然,第二天下了雹暴.“印度人真神,”導演說.他告訴秘書雇傭該印度人來預報天氣.幾次預報都很成功.然后,接下來的兩周,印度人不見了.最后,導演派人去把他叫來了.“我明天必須拍一個很大的場景,”導演說,“這得靠你了.明天天氣如何啊?”
印度人聳了聳肩.“我不知道,”印度人說,“收音機壞了.”
第五篇:幽默英語腦筋急轉彎
搞笑英語腦筋急轉彎
1.Why are people tired on April Fool's Day?(愚人節人們為什么疲倦?)
答:Because they have just had a long March.(因為他們剛過了長長的三月。March 三月;行軍)
2.What weather do mice and rats fear?(老鼠害怕什么天氣?)
答:When it's raining cats and dogs.(下大雨。rain cats and dogs 下大雨)
3.When do dogs refuse to follow their masters?(狗什么時候不愿跟隨主人?)
答:When their masters go to the flea market.(主人去跳蚤市場時。Flea 跳蚤 flea market 舊貨市場)
4.What question can never be answered by “yes”?(哪個問題永遠不能回答“是的”?)
答:Are you asleep?(你睡著了嗎)
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5.What tree is always very sad?(哪種樹總是很傷心?)
答:Weeping willow.(垂柳 weep哭泣 willow柳樹)
6.When can you get water with a net?(什么時候可以用網兜裝水?)
答:When water is turned into ice.(當水結成冰時)
7.Why is the pig always eating?豬為什么沒完沒了地吃?
答:He's making a hog of himself.它想成為一只肉豬。
8.What's the longest word in the world?世界上最長的單詞是什么?
答:Smiles.Because there's a mile between the letter 's'.微笑。因為兩個字母S中間隔了一里。
9.What question is that to which you must always answer “yes”? 什么問題你只能回答“yes”?
答:“What does y-e-s spell?”(當別人問你)“yes”怎么拼?
10.Where were you when the power was cut off? 當停電的時候你在哪? 答:In the darkness.在黑暗中。
1.What will you break once you say it?(什么東西一說出來就打破?)2.Will liars be honest after they die?(騙子死了之后會誠實嗎?)3.What always goes up and never goes down?(什么東西只升不降?)4.Why did the boy make his dog sit in the sun?(男孩為什么讓他的狗坐在陽光下?)
5.Why can a bride hide nothing?(為什么新娘子什么也藏不住?)6.Why is the library the highest building?(為什么圖書館是最高的建筑物?)7.What is the smallest bridge in the world?(世界上最小的橋梁是什么?)8.What is the difference between the North Pole and the South Pole?(北極與南極的區別是什么?)9.What makes naughty boys long to work in a clock factory?(淘氣的男孩為什么想去鐘表廠工作?)10.What bird lifts heavy things?(什么鳥能舉起重物?)11.A ship can contain only fifty persons.Now there is alreadyforty-nine person in it.At this time,a pregnant woman comes on andboards the ship.The shipsinks.Why?(有一艘船只能容納50人,現在已有49人。這時一位孕婦上了船,船就沉了。為什么?)12.What's the poorest bank in the world?(世界的最貧窮的銀行是什么?)13.What month do soldiers hate?(軍人憎恨什么月?)答案Answers: 1.Silence.(沉默)2.No, they won’t.They lie still after they die。(不會,他們依舊撒謊。Lie still 躺著不動,依舊撒謊。)3.Your age.(你的年齡)4.He wants to have a hot dog.(他想要一條熱狗。)5.Because someone will give her away.(因為有人會揭發她。Give away 揭發,在婚禮上把新娘交給新郎)6.It has the most stories.(它的樓層最多。Story 故事,樓層)7.The bridge of a nose.(鼻梁)8.A whole world.(整個世界。a world of difference 天壤之別)
9.They want to make faces.(make face 做鬼臉,做鐘表面)10.Crane.(鶴。Crane鶴,舉重機)11.Because is a pigboat.(那是潛水艇。pigboat,潛水艇)12.The river bank。(河岸。)13.March。(行軍。)
1.What will you break once you say it? 什么東西一說出來就打破? 2.Will liars be honest after they die? 騙子死了之后會誠實嗎?
3.What always goes up and never goes down? 什么東西只升不降?
4.Why did the boy make his dog sit in the sun? 男孩為什么讓他的狗坐在陽光下? 5.Why can a bride hide nothing? 為什么新娘子什么也藏不住? 6.Why is the library the highest building? 為什么圖書館是最高的建筑物? 7.What is the smallest bridge in the world? 世界上最小的橋梁是什么?
8.What is the difference between the North Pole and the South Pole? 北極與南極的區別是什么?
9.What makes naughty boys long to work in a clock factory? 淘氣的男孩為什么想去鐘表廠工作? 10.What bird lifts heavy things? 什么鳥能舉起重物?
11.A ship can contain only fifty persons.Now there is already forty-nine persons in it.At this time,a pregnant woman comes on and boards the ship.The ship sinks.Why? 有一艘船只能容納50人,現在已有49人。這時一位孕婦上了船,船就沉了。為什么? 12.Why is the comet like Micky Mouse? 為什么是彗星像米老鼠?
13.Who is closer to you, your mom or your dad? 誰跟你比較親密,你的媽媽或你的爸爸? 14.What's the poorest bank in the world?
世界的最貧窮的銀行是什么? 15.What month do soldiers hate? 軍人憎恨什么月? 16.An old woman has lived in one-story house before.Her body is very short.Afterwards,she moves into a big building and lives in the ninth story.However, when she comes back home each time,she always takes an elevator to the sixth story and gets off,then she walks to the ninth story.Why? 有位老婦人,從前住平房,并且個子非常矮,后來她搬進了一個很高的樓里,住在第九層,但是她每次回家,她總是乘電梯到第六層就下來,然后走到第九層.為什么?
答案: 1.Silence.沉默
2.No, they won't.They lie still after they die.不會,他們依舊撒謊。Lie still 躺著不動,依舊撒謊。3.Your age.你的年齡
4.He wants to have a hot dog.他想要一條熱狗。5.Because someone will give her away.因為有人會揭發她。Give away 揭發,在婚禮上把新娘交給新郎 6.It has the most stories.它的樓層最多。Story 故事,樓層 7.The bridge of a nose.鼻梁
8.A whole world.整個世界。a world of difference 天壤之別 9.They want to make faces.make face 做鬼臉,做鐘表面
10.Crane.鶴。Crane鶴,舉重機
11.Because is a pigboat.那是潛水艇。pigboat,潛水艇 12.Because it is a star with a tail.因為它是有尾巴的星星。13.Mom is closer, because Dad is father(farther).因為爸爸是父親 , 所以媽媽比較靠近。14.The river bank.河岸。15.March.行軍.16.Because she was too short to press the ninth button.她太矮了不能按到第九層的按鈕.Q:What's the difference between a monkey and a flea? A: A monkey can have fleas, but a flea can't have monkeys.猴子會和跳蚤有什么不同呢?你可能會直接的想到它們倆是一大一小。但除此之外呢,那就是猴子身上可以長跳蚤,而跳蚤身上卻不能有猴子。這個答案很有意思吧?
Q: How can you most irritate a farmer? A: By treading on his corn?
如果你踩了農夫的玉米或是谷物,他肯定會生氣的;而如果你踩了農夫腳底的雞眼,他會更生氣。Corn既可以表示“玉米/谷物”,也有“雞眼”的意思。
Q: Which is the strongest creature in the world? A: The snail.It carries its house on its back.因為snail(蝸牛)的后背上總是背著一所房子,所以說蝸牛是世界上最強壯的生物是不足為奇的。你說呢?
Q: What do people do in a clock factory? A: They make faces all day.一看到make faces這個短語,你可千萬別以為是在鐘表廠工作的人整天都做鬼臉呀!因為除了這個意思以外,它還可以從字面上解釋為制造鐘面。
Q: How do you stop a sleepwalker from walking in his sleep? A: Keep him awake.怎樣才能不讓夢游者(sleepwalker)夢游(walk in his sleep)呢?最簡單的方法就是不讓他睡覺。雖然這不是治療方法,但如果讓夢游者醒著呢,他的確就不會去夢游了。
1)----Who is closer to you,your mom or your dad ?(爸爸和媽媽誰和你更近?)
—— Mom is closer because d
(2)----What fruit is never found singly ?(什么水果永遠不會是單個的?)
——
(3)----Why are young men unwilling to date the daughter of the Fortunes ?(年輕人為什么不愿意和福瓊家女兒約會?)
——
注: 以上腦筋急轉彎泛采用了同音詞(homonyms):(1)“father”(父親)與“farther”(更遠)(2)“pear”(梨)音同“pair”(一對),(3)“Miss Fortune”音同“misfortune”(不幸)http://www.tmdps.cn(4)Why is an empty matchbox the best thing to have in the world ?(為什么空火柴盒是世界上最好的東西?)——
(5)Why did little Tom put his brother's guitar in the refrigerator ?(小湯姆為什么把哥哥的吉他放在冰箱里?)——
(6)What stays hot even if put it in a fridge?(什么東西即使放在冰箱里也熱?)——
注: 以上腦筋急轉彎大量運用了雙關語(puns):
(4)“matchless”既可理解為“沒有火柴的”,又可理解為“舉世無雙的,無可匹敵的”;
(5)“cool”可表示“冷的、涼的”,也可指“棒、時髦、美妙的”;(6)“hot”有兩個意思:“熱”、“辣”。