The Pun Also Rises (John Pollack)

In The Pun Also Rises, John Pollack argues that puns—frequently viewed with disdain and met with groans—have played a valuable role in society throughout the ages. After defining the word, he looks at "how the brain fetches meaning from sound," the rise and fall of puns in societies throughout history, and concludes by arguing that punning played a formative role in humanity's advance throughout the ages.

What is a pun? "A pun, in its purest form, is a word of phrease containing layered, or multiple, meanings." There are many types of puns, to include homophonic (words/phrases that sound alike), homographic (words that have more than one meaning), paradigmatic (the listener needs to understand the context), syntagmatic (involves a "sequential use of similar or identical words"), and combinations thereof. Ultimately, "punning is all about connecting ideas, no matter how disparate."

Why is "wordplay in general, and punning specifically, such an enduring part of language?" Puns "play a formative role in childhood development, by revealing the relationship between words, sounds, context and meaning." Puns help us learn "how to think critically." "To overlook the obvious to explore other possible interpretations . . ." They "require significant powers of abstraction, a deliberate subversion of rules, and a special appreciation for surprise." Good puns require wit, intellect,  imagination, widespread vocabulary, and knowledge (of the world, culture, audience, and more).

"For thousands of years, the pun actually enjoyed a priveleged status in Western philosophy, art and religion—a status that far transcended that which it often suffers today." It was once a "respected rhetorical device." But growing class awareness and distinctions in the Age of Reason (eighteenth century) led to its relegation in some circles. It would continue to enjoy popularity elsewhere, but modern audiences (post-WWII) "began responding better to humor that was a little more raw and a little less obviously constructed." Nevertheless, they persist; puns today are found everywhere, from logos to advertisements to crossword puzzles to newspaper headlines. 

His ultimate argument? Puns are more than some antics.

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Since one 2023 goal of mine is humor study, looking at puns was high on my list. This book is a wonderful introduction. While I don't buy all of his arguments (I agree that puns are powerful and important, but don't agree that they "made possible the rise of modern civilization"), I nevertheless enjoyed the background. An ample bibliography shall undoubtedly give me clues as to what I should read next in this area. 

Ultimately, this book is fascinating and humorous—make no bones about it. Though such ribbing isn't within the radius of what some consider amusing, I argue they are too sternum—I demandible they reconsider. Others, though, may back me up and lumbar along with my brand of humor, recognizing it as hip, tibia honest with you. Do you femur puns are coming? I'll stop . . . nobody should have a bone to pick with me.

Rating: A-