• Linguistische Treffen in Wrocław •

Humour is an indispensable part of human life. It supports us in good and bad times because it has visible medical and psychological effects as well as influences our interactions with others. Jokes, which come in many forms, are its most representative and simplest types. For these reasons, among others, the aim of the article is to show and discuss the nature and kinds of language jokes and, above all, to describe various joke techniques which are the source of comical ambiguity and tension. The techniques presented, thoroughly examined and illustrated with numerous examples, are the most important or frequently used mechanisms for generating humour. The analysis identifies a wide range of possibilities for their construction. They also illustrate the humor indicators inherent in jokes such as ambiguity, deliberate or accidental misunderstandings, word mixes, verbalization of metaphors, incorrect word formation, accent changes, incorrect separation, multiple naming, representation by the opposite (antiphrase) as well as numerous modifications and decompositions.