Dadžare – japonský kalambúr a jeho výzkumný potenciál

Abstract

Dajare – Japanese pun and its research potential The present paper introduces dajare as a Japanese form of puns, i.e. utterances with multiple meanings based on a wordplay. Dajare is chosen as a minimal text with a potential of humorous effect, thus a promising starting point for a research of humor and laughter from perspec tives of cultural anthropology and cognitive linguistics. While the ability to make puns with the use of the Chi nese script in Japan is historically well documented in the form of gisho, the concept of dajare is traced to the realms of the poetic forms of haikai no renga, zappai etc. In modern Japan, dajare is often regarded rather nega tively as “old men’s joke” (oyaji gyagu), mainly due to its separation from the tradition of poetic wit. Nevertheless, several areas of the use of dajare are presented and some principles of its most common form are discussed from the linguistic point of view. The paper ends with two main proposals for further research into Japanese puns: Research in the communicative, textual and discourse functions of dajare (humorous effect as the main goal is questioned) and in the relation of puns and linguistic creativity from the perspective of construction grammar.