Puns--everyone has heard or used them before. They are seen as either very bad jokes, or a fun and smart way to play with language, depending on who you ask. Many comedians build their programmes around subtle puns which require some thinking instead of taking their audience by their hands. The best puns are usually those that make you laugh out loud all of a sudden hours after the pun has been told.
Not only comedians use puns, though. Asterix, a popular French comic book series, relies on puns a lot, for example. Most of the characters' names are puns, intended to portray the characters' quirks or strengths in an often satirical way.
Why are puns seen in two completely different ways?
Honestly, some puns are probably too old, too commonly known, to be more than a groaner. Other puns, however, are so subtle that most people won't even notice them at first, and might burst out laughing in an inappropriate moment hours later when they suddenly understand them.
I personally love puns. They are one of the fun parts of language. A playground, if you want, where all we language lovers can let out our inner child and have fun.
Feel free to share your favourite puns in the comments; I would love to read them!
Language ... the bridge of communication, the magic creator of worlds, the brush and paint of authors. Language is magic. It gives us power. It is something you just have to love.
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