Journal of Applied Languages and Linguistics

Article

​

TITLE: Humor me! and maybe I will understand. Differences and similarities of Men’s

and Women’s perception and production of humor

Author: Natalia Emmanouil

PhD student in Applied Linguistics

Hellenic American University

New Hampshire-USA/Athens-Greece

Email: nata_emma@yahoo.gr

Published online: 24 July 2019, pp. 129-156

​​

Citation:

Emmanouil, N. (2019) Humor me! and maybe I will understand. Differences and similarities of Men’s and Women’s perception and production of humor, Journal of Applied Languages and Linguistics, 3(1), ALS House Publications. Athens, Greece, pp. 129-156.

​

Abstract

Humor is a multi-faceted phenomenon whose functions in interpersonal and cross cultural communication vary, having positive (closer relationships, resolution of conflict) or negative (sarcastic and ironic remarks, exercise of power) outcomes. The present literature review focuses on the gender differences and similarities of humor use between men and women; it views their discourse as cross-cultural because they process humor differently. According to previous research men usually use humor to transmit information about themselves and they tend to enjoy aggressive and sexual humor while women use humor to create solidarity and they tend to be more evaluative than men. Both use humor when exercising power to emphasize or deemphasize their position. The present study suggests that in order to overcome problematic situations both genders should develop Cultural and Emotional Intelligence so that they can adjust themselves cross-culturally.

​

                                                                        © Applied Language Studies House Publications 2019. All rights reserved.

​

Keywords: humor, cross-cultural, gender, Cultural Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence

​