Language Play and Humorous Conversations

Abstract

This article presents the study results of language play and humorous conversations in ‘EFM94 Arom Dee Pleng Dee Tuk Naew’ radio programme broadcast on the Royal Thai Army Radio Station 94 MHz and online 24 hours. The conversations demonstrate language play between language form and meaning at sound, word, phrase, and sentence levels. It shows their intention to play with ambiguity in meanings in order to be humorous. It is carried out by the hosts presenting the crux of the problem through a situation that accords with the theory of humour before misleading listeners who expect that the situation will continue as they think. Finally, the problem is resolved in order to end the conversation with a sudden twist that is contrary to the listeners’ expectation. Thus the story becomes humorous for the listeners.