Jokes: Why They don't Click Cross-culturally?

As a Filipino, who resides in Los Angeles County, I regularly watch Channel 18's Kababayan LA, the only locally produced Filipino TV program in the USofA. While watching it on Thursday, July 17, I was intrigued with the response of Allan K, the well-known Filipino comedian and a mainstay of the #1 Philippine noontime TV showEat Bulaga, when he was asked on the difference of the Filipino from the American jokes. Allan K shied away from the question by saying that Filipino audience are very sensitive that comedian should be tactful when cracking jokes with them.

Trained to systematically observe social interaction among members of society, I never considered Filipino sensitivity, per se, as a difference between American and Filipino jokes. Every member of society has his or her sensitivity. Why? I tell you why. When a message is sent, the receiver has to sift it through his/her culture (i.e. language, morals, values, educ., arts, etc.)and his/her psychological self. The person's culture and psychological make-up make the difference in understanding and responding to a message. Whether you are a Filipino, British, or American, the process of communication is still the same.

A joke is a humorous message. The audience needs to understand the joke to respond appropriately. Culturally, we, Filipinos, usually crack jokes with antic. We also tend to repeat or explain the punchline. The antic and the premature unveiling of the punchline make Filipinos laughing, and allow me to exaggerate, even before the joke is said and done. Americans don't (although I have been seeing changes nowadays, when I watch the TV program, The Last Comic Standing); they say the punchline once, at the very end of the joke. Then, the comedian stops. Those whose mother tongue is English and those completely assimilated to the American society, could laugh right away in response to the joke because they imediatley get the message; for those whose mother tongue isn't, they tend to smirk. They consider it unamusing. Why? Because the culture (i.e. the language,morals, etc.) and the intellect (i.e. the grasping of the meaning) take awhile to process the joke.

Ability to understand the language used in the joke is highly important with how people respond to it. Sensitivity (maybe the best term is cultural norm) is just part of it. I bet you, many American English speaker would find this British joke unamusing: "I used to dress off the peg, but now my neighbours take in their washing at night." Those who don't know that peg to British is a clothespin would respond to this joke differently.