The British are known for their courtesy, stiffness, equanimity and subtle humor. Their jokes are most often called specific, because most foreigners do not understand them and do not find them funny. But the British are convinced that they are the most witty, and British humor is the funniest in the world.
Distinctive features
Most English jokes to foreigners seem boring and incomprehensible. This is due to the fact that almost all jokes describe absurd situations. Also, British humor is difficult to perceive for those who have not mastered the English language perfectly, and translation can not always convey the meaning of a joke.
In addition to the fact that the situations described are absurd, you need to talk about them with equanimity, saying that everything should be so. This is what confuses foreigners - after all, it is difficult to understand from the face of an Englishman whether he is joking or not. British humor pays attention to detail, which is its hallmark. But the main thing is that all jokes must be pronounced with a calm, calm face.
Why is the English humor considered "subtle"? Because most jokes are based on puns, and they are based on puns, so to understand the meaning of their jokes, you must be fluent in English.
British humor is the ability to laugh not only at others, but also at oneself. In general, the British believe that a person who knows how to laugh at himself is mentally healthy. In addition, the British are happy to joke around. To some extent, they test you for strength, so the ideal option is if you can support the interlocutor’s joke.
To foreigners, English humor seems gloomy, dry and sarcastic, but British jokes have become one of the most famous components of British culture.
Varieties of jokes
The British joke about everything: people, weather, politics, the royal family - the main thing is to be funny. The so-called black humor is also appreciated by the British, but mainly by intellectuals. To some, black English humor may even seem rude.
- Elephant jokes are absurd and ridiculous stories.
- Sarcasm and irony - humor bordering on cynicism is considered aerobatics.
- "American" jokes "are primitive jokes that the English call" slipped on a banana peel. "
- Illogical stories.
- The "pun" is one of the British favorite pastimes, which is available only to those who know English well.
By the way, some people think that phraseological units, sayings and jokes are a great way to learn a language. In addition, they help to better understand the culture of another people. Because of the British love for various puns, some consider their humor too intellectual.
Self-irony is the foundation of everything
The British like to joke not only about others - they like it, and they know how to laugh at themselves. They can make fun of character, appearance and, of course, national characteristics. They like to joke about their traditions more than representatives of other nationalities. Therefore, if you want to get the respect of an Englishman, then learn to ironize yourself. After all, for them, a person who can laugh at himself is mentally healthy.
By the way, despite the fact that they like self-irony, they expect the same from others. And they like joking with other people no less than with themselves. Therefore, you need to respond to such jokes with a smile and joke in response. This is one of the most effective ways to make friends with an Englishman.
Features of black humor
The British are very fond of black humor, but sometimes such jokes are like rudeness. It is believed that he appeared in the XIII century, when King Edward subjugated Wales. In 1284, the king promised the Welsh that they would not be ruled by a man who can speak English. And at the head of Wales, King Edward put his newborn son, who still could not speak.
To understand the British sense of humor, one must not only be fluent in English, but also be familiar with British culture. Be sure to pay attention to complex words, which consist of two bases. Here is an example of English humor:
“Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day?”
- Because ordinary stones are very heavy.
This joke will not seem funny to many people. The word shamrock in English is shamroks and it includes the word roks, which means "stone." This is precisely the essence of the joke.
Humor in books
It was believed that the British did not publicly demonstrate their sense of humor, they did not make loud laughs. Instead, they showed others an ironic smile, but in the works of English writers you can find vivid characters flaunting British humor.
But modern British are not averse to showing their sense of humor in book titles. For foreigners, they can be absurd and rude, but for the British they will be ridiculous. In the names there may be a bit of black humor.
Humorous programs
As the British joke, you can watch in popular in the UK television comedy programs.
- Monty Python is one of the most popular shows. The band members became famous for their specific sense of humor. Monty Python's Flying Circus is an amazing combination of surrealistic jokes, sarcasm and gloomy humor.
- Mr. Bean is one of the most famous comic characters in the world. The role of the funny Mr. Bean is played by the inimitable Rowan Atkinson. This series tells about how an adult man gets into various ridiculous situations. Mr. Bean practically does not speak, and the series is based on the emotional reactions of the characters.
- "Fools are lucky" - this humor can be classified as everyday. It tells about the grandfather and his two grandchildren who seek to get rich by any means. The series has received many awards.
English humor compares favorably with American in that there are no curses. Although, of course, he is not so sophisticated, but still continues to remain mysterious and incomprehensible to most foreigners.
The nuances in communicating with the British
It seems that it is not easy to communicate with the British, especially if they are joking. But if you follow some nuances when communicating, you can easily communicate with residents of the UK.
- The British are very proud of their sense of humor. Therefore, to argue that other nations know how to joke no worse is not worth it.
- The British are trying to play down everything - this should be taken into account when making jokes.
- You need to learn self-irony - then you will earn respect from the British.
- If you begin to argue with you in a relaxed atmosphere, then you should not take it too seriously. They thus test your strength.
The British are trying to follow the principle of "to be easier." Therefore, it is not necessary to try to complicate anything, but to study the language and British culture more in order to better understand them.
How to react to British jokes?
Communication between friends in England is a frivolous argument and an exchange of witty phrases. The interlocutor picks up the thought of another and continues his joke. Therefore, in order to easily and naturally maintain communication, you need to live a very long time in England. But there are some tips to help you react correctly to a British sense of humor.
- If you are approached on the street and asked about the weather, be sure to support a conversation on this topic. Even if there is a downpour on the street, and your interlocutor says that the weather is beautiful, agree with him and say that you hope that it will be better tomorrow.
- Don't take the conversation in the pub too seriously - it's best to joke back.
- When communicating with the British, be careful with affirmative remarks, because they are often used as irony.
- Be careful when using sarcasm.
- It’s not customary for the English to smile if a person speaks with sarcasm. To convey it, use intonation, gestures, words.
Of course, in order to easily find a common language with the British, you need to understand their culture and mentality. And before you start practicing wit, be sure to learn English. Most jokes in British humor are based on puns and puns.