The spontaneous co-creation of comedy: Humour in improvised theatrical fiction

This study investigates humour strategies in improvised theatrical fiction. Improvised theatre is a type of data that has thus far remained unexplored by linguistic studies, but which provides interesting insight into the characteristics fictional texts and, more specifically, relation between dialogues fiction and spontaneous conversation. The starting point for analysis participation framework theatre, compared to well-studied telecinematic discourse. comparison two types identifies number crucial differences their frameworks, such as co-presence audience during text creation, an emphasis on production process, temporal proximity reception. These form background discussion three are typical fiction, namely metafictional frame breaking, non-contrived co-construction humorous exchanges. shows these closely related communicative set apart from scripted demonstrates dependent they used.