Anti-proverb

An anti-proverb is the transformation of a stereotype word sequence – as e. g. a proverb, a quotation, or an idiom – in order to cause humorist effect.

Stereotype sequences are essentially defined phrases well-known to many people, as e. g. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you". When this sequence slightly changed ("Don’t bite the hand that looks dirty") it is termed a transformation.

Classification on formal criteria

*Association: The similarity to the original sequence is strong enough to identify it, but there is no further connection: "The early worm is being picked first".
*Change of homonyms: A word which has several meanings is interpreted in a new way: "Where there's a will, there's a lawsuit"
*Combination: Two sequences are combined: "One brain washes the other".
*Occasional allusions: A special connection can be seen not by language but by the situation: "This won't help, Pilate!" is written on an electric hand drier.
*Permutation: While keeping the syntactic structure, the words are jumbled: "A waist is a terrible thing to mind".
*Abridgement: The sequence is cut and thus changed completely: "All's well that ends."
*Substitution: Parts of the sequence are replaced: "Absence makes the heart go wander".
*Supplementation: A sentence with a contrasting meaning is added to the original sequence: "A man's home is his castle – let him clean it".
*Syntactic change: The semantic structure of the sentence changes while the sequence of words stays the same: German example: "Der Mensch denkt: Gott lenkt".

Classification on content criteria

*Mitigation: The meaning seems kept, but is qualified by the supplement: "Everything has an end, but a pudding has two".
*Apology: The original sequence is defended against attacks: German example: "Kunst kommt von können, nicht von wollen, sonst würde es Wulst heißen".
*Athesis: The message of the original sequence is destroyed but no new meaning is established: "Guns don't kill – ammunition does".
*Conservation: The meaning is similar, with and without the supplement: "There is no such thing as a free lunch, but there is always free cheese in a mousetrap".
*Contrast: The original meaning is put in relation to another sphere of life: "All we need is love – all we get is homework".
*Break of metaphor: Metaphors are interpreted literally: "Duty is calling? We call back".
*Neogenesis: The meaning of the new sentence is completely independent of the original one: "An onion a day keeps everybody away".
*Rejection: The original assertion is rejected: "When marriage is outlawed, only outlaws will have in-laws".
*Synthesis: A meaningful sentence consists of some phrases; Some of these classes are divided into sub-classes.

Types of humorous effects

*Bisociation: This is a technical term coined by Arthur Koestler. He says that a funny text is situated in two different semantic levels. In the beginning, the hearer or reader is aware of only one of them. In the punch line, the second level comes up so suddenly that he starts laughing. The sudden coming up of the second level is the point. This effect is very well shown in the expression: "I only want your best – your money"
*Destruction: If the sublime is pulled down to banality, most of us feel somehow liberated. Generally, this is funnier than the contrary. Therefore many humorous transformations are made up this way: "Jesus may love you – but will he respect you in the morning?"
*Contrast of form and meaning: A banal clumsiness is rendered in a rather lofty literary expression. This might also be funny if the original sequence is unknown to the hearer or reader.
*Fictional catastrophe: Unlike real disasters, catastrophes which are only made up or solved in one's mind might be humorous, as can be seen in the quotation: "The light at the end of the tunnel is only muzzle flash".

Literature

*Erika Gossler: "Besser arm dran als Bein ab. Anti-Sprichwörter und ihresgleichen". Vienna 2005. (In German) ISBN 3-7069-0162-5

See also

*Malapropism