Definition of HumorPublic Speaking Skills

Prepared By TM Manu Melwin Joy

Kerala ToastmastersArea – G3,Division G

District 92, India.Phone – 9744551114

Mail – manu_melwinjoy@yahoo.com

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Definition of humor

• Humor is defined as "the

mental faculty of

discovering, expressing

or appreciating the

ludicrous or absurdly

incongruous".

Definition of humor

• Ludicrous is an adjective

meaning amusing or

laughable through obvious

absurdity, incongruity,

exaggeration or eccentricity.

What is incongruous? It is

something lacking congruity,

inconsistent within itself.

Definition of humor

• Doctor Jarvis was a professional

public speaker who focused on

humor, and he defined it in two

ways. One, humor is a painful

thing told playfully. Two, humor

is a tragedy separated by time

and space.

Definition of wit

• Wit is defined as, "the

power to evoke laughter

by remarks showing verbal

felicity or ingenuity and

swift perception, especially

of the incongruous".

Definition of wit

• Synonymous with wit are,

humor, irony, sarcasm, satire and

repartee, which are all modes of

expression intended to arouse

amusement. But there is another

element to wit which Dr. Jarvis

explains by saying, "Wit

punctures, humor pictures."

Definition of wit

• A person with wit delivers

witticisms which are defined

as cleverly witty and often

biting or ironic remarks with

the ability to relate

seemingly disparate things

so as to illuminate or amuse.

Difference between humor, wit, satire and farce

• In its narrower sense, humor is

distinguished from wit, satire, and

farce. It is less intellectual and

more imaginative than wit, being

concerned more with character

and situation than with plays upon

words or upon ideas; more

sympathetic and less cruel than

satire; more subtle than farce.

Who should use humor?

• Anyone whose job it is to

communicate to groups of

individuals, to share

information or to motivate,

could use humor to invigorate

their message and improve the

reception of their audience.

If deep, deep down, you know that you are a klutz when it comes to delivering the punch line, if you can't seem to get jokes right, then consider carefully your decision to use humor.