1. 1. SEMIOTICS: PAINTINGS BY CHINESE PAINTER ON ENGLISH AND GERMAN ATTITUDES 2. DOES CULTURE TRANSLATE? 3. A CHINESE JOKE QUESTIONNAIRE 4. DOES HUMOR TRANSLATE? 5. CAN HUMOR BE TAUGHT? Range of issues in Cross-cultural English

2. Language exists in a sociocultural context Language: a systematic means of communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures, or marks having understood meanings Culture: a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior -- an abstract "mental blueprint" or "mental code.  Must be studied "indirectly" by studying behavior, customs, material culture (artifacts, tools, technology), language

3. language & culture intersection: copyright Yang Liu, born in 1976 in Beijing, has lived in Berlin since she was 13; her advanced degrees are from the UK. She is a prize-winning designer of posters, logos and other graphic arts, for international audiences. This Exhibit was held May-June 2007 at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photos of Yang Liu’s exhibit blasted across the Chinese blogosphere in June/July and went West via a German exchange student’s blog on her current studies in Beijing. I rec’d them in Aug from an (Engl) prof in Taiwan. Per Liu’s request on a Chinese- English blog, keyed to international copyright, I am showing only 3 close-up photos. http://yanfeng.org/2007/06/ a-comparison-between- german-and-chinese- illustrations http://yanfeng.org/2007/06/ a-comparison-between- german-and-chinese- illustrations

4. Semiotics: Yang Liu’s Berlin exhibit, July 07 http://www.yangliudesign.com/

5. Anger: Germans & Chinese

6. Life style of elders: German & Chinese

7. Transportation: German & Chinese

8. Chen Chia-Ying’s M.A. Thesis English Joke Measurement Questionnaire Dear participants: The purpose of this questionnaire is to investigate (a) your English joke comprehension and appreciation and (b) your attitude toward teaching and learning of English jokes. All of your answers and personal information will be kept confidential and used for research only. Thank you very much! Graduate: Chia-ying Chen E-mail: eileen-9@yahoo.com.tweileen-9@yahoo.com.tw Advisor: Dr. Ling-Zu Yang English Department of National Kaohsiung Normal University 116 Ho Ping First Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC

9. Humor: does it translate? Can we teach it? Directions First, please fill out the questionnaire at the top of your Answer Sheet You will see 16 jokes, on 16 separate slides. Please check and fill in the appropriate spaces on your Answer Sheet. If a joke seems potentially un- teachable or likely to offend in the US, add a note. Then we will have a group discussion about these two questions, Chen’s selections, and Chen’s work with different layers of culture and language.

10. Sample. Answering Q2 is essential Q: Why doesn’t the dinosaur cross the road anymore? A: Because their eggs stink. Answers:X Unfunny Q2: Please explain the punch line. “their eggs stink” sounds like “they're extinct.” Q3: Why is the joke unfunny? X I have read/heard it before.