THE ROLE OF OPPOSITION SCRIPT IN HUMOR: A DISCOURSE-BASED ARGUMENT FOR COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY

Abstract

This study investigates the role of script opposition in humor and argues for a discourse-based understanding of humor as an instance of cognitive complexity. Drawing upon Victor Raskin’s Script-Based Semantic Theory of Humor (SSTH) and the subsequent General Theory of Verbal Humor (GTVH) developed with Salvatore Attardo, the research explores how humor is generated through the clash of incompatible scripts and how this process is shaped by discourse context.

The study employs a descriptive-analytical method, analyzing a purposive sample of humorous texts drawn from conversational jokes, stand-up comedy, media satire, and cross-cultural humor. Each text is examined at two levels: (1) semantic analysis of script oppositions and the knowledge resources outlined in the GTVH, and (2) discourse analysis focusing on pragmatic functions, cultural embedding, and interactional strategies.

The findings demonstrate that while script opposition is the core semantic mechanism underlying humor, its effectiveness depends crucially on discourse framing and shared cultural knowledge. Humor requires audiences to engage in rapid script switching, interpret multiple possible meanings, and situate the incongruity within specific social and cultural contexts. As such, humor functions not only as entertainment but also as a social practice that manages relationships, critiques institutions, and reinforces group identities.

The study concludes that humor is best understood as a triadic construct: semantic incongruity (script opposition), discursive framing (pragmatic and interactional strategies), and cultural embedding (shared knowledge and critique). This integrated perspective reveals humor as a highly sophisticated form of language use that illustrates the human mind’s ability to process and negotiate complex layers of meaning. The research contributes to humor studies by bridging semantic and discourse approaches and by emphasizing humor’s role as a lens into cognitive flexibility and complexity.