The types of jokes in view of language ambiguity (illustrated by the Vietnamese and English languages)

Abstract

Jokes are common in life. In which, ambiguity of language plays an active role and helps the speaker and the listener to achieve communication effectively; i.e. creating and getting humour. Jokes are concise but delicate and full of artistic qualities in them. The paper analyzes the characteristics of language ambiguity as a "means" to create the humour out of jokes in Vietnamese and English; simultaneously examines the types of jokes due to language ambiguity as well as considers the possibility of using them in teaching/ learning a foreign language.