EXPRESSION OF NATIONAL-TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN ENGLISH HUMOR

Abstract

This article explores the expression of national-traditional concepts in English humor. Humor reflects the historical experience, social conditions, and collective consciousness of a society, making it a key semiotic and discursive component of national culture. English humor is characterized by its indirect, ironic, and implicit nature, closely linked to the traditional values of the English national mentality.

The study aims to identify the main national-cultural concepts expressed in English humor and analyze their linguistic and pragmatic realization. Using a complex methodological approach, the research draws on linguocultural, discursive-pragmatic, and conceptual analyses. The material includes excerpts from classical and contemporary English literature (P. G. Wodehouse, J. K. Jerome), dialogues from television series (Yes, Minister, Blackadder, The IT Crowd), and fragments from English stand-up comedy.

The analysis identifies key concepts such as self-control, class consciousness, tradition and continuity, and self-irony. These concepts are often expressed indirectly through understatement, irony, sarcasm, and other pragmatic devices. English humor functions not only as an aesthetic or communicative phenomenon but also as a tool for social control, cultural continuity, and strengthening social cohesion.

The study concludes that understanding English humor as a complex semiotic and linguocultural phenomenon is crucial for deep comprehension of English culture and effective intercultural communication.