Resumen de Functions and strategies of male humour in cross-gender interactions

Sonia Álvarez López

• galego

  Neste traballo presento unha análise das funcións e estratexias do humor masculino nunha interacción mixta dun grupo de xente nova. Os datos obtivéronse nun contexto informal de hora e media de conversa real, gravada e transcrita, nunha pandilla de amigos e amigas. A análise baséase en ferramentas derivadas da análise da conversa e a sociolingüística interaccional, e examina dúas funcións do humor masculino: por unha parte, conseguir e manter o control e a monopolización da interacción e, por outra, forxar a camaradería masculina. En termos xerais, os nosos resultados mostran que o humor chega a ser un factor organizativo importante na interacción, que pode tomar forma de ataque verbal, xogos de palabras competitivos, vaciles, chistes e anécdotas. Este humor, habitual no grupo analizado, pode ter unha función de vinculación entre os locutores masculinos, pero produce unha situación asimétrica desde o momento en que as mulleres son o obxecto das súas bromas ou toman o papel permanente de audiencia

• English

  In this paper I will present an analysis of the functions and strategies of male humour in an interaction among the members of a mixed group of young people. The data were obtained in the informal context of an hour and a half of real conversation, recorded and transcribed, within a group of male and female friends. The analysis is based on tools derived from conversation analysis and interactional sociolinguistics, and examines the functions of male humour: on one hand, to obtain and maintain control and monopolisation of the interaction, and, on the other hand, to forge male camaraderie. In general terms, our results demonstrate that humour becomes an important organizing factor in the interaction, which may take the form of a verbal attack, competitive word games, teasing, jokes and anecdotes. This humour, habitual among the group analysed, can have a bonding function among the male speakers, but produces an asymmetrical situation from the moment that the women become the object of their jokes or take the permanent role of audience