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in body language· content

Using Humour in Presentations

Every presentation requires some form of humour, subtle or obvious.  Although it should be used sparingly it can help in the following situations:

  • Help the speaker connect with the audience
  • Make the presentation more memorable
  • Change the pace of a presentation
  • Change the tone of a presentation
  • Make the message more palatable
  • To entertain
  • Categories of Humour

Scott Dikkers, the founding editor of The Onion, has claimed that every joke can be categorized into one of 11 categories.[2]

  1. Irony: The literal meaning is the opposite of the meaning that the speaker intends.
  2. Character: A joke based on the recognizability of certain character types.
  3. Reference: A.k.a. “It’s funny because it’s true”—references to experiences that the listener can relate to.
  4. Shock: The language or the inappropriate nature of the joke surprises and amuses the listener.
  5. Parody: Imitates a person or an idea in a funny way.
  6. Hyperbole: An exaggeration to the point of being absurd—and funny.
  7. Wordplay: Puns, double-meanings, and so on.
  8. Analogy: Comparing two things that don’t seem to go together—and yet somehow do.
  9. Madcap: Silly and often out of control. Think John Belushi, Jim Carrey, or Melissa McCarthy.
  10. Meta-humor: Jokes about jokes.
  11. Misplaced Focus: Funny because the person is noticing the wrong thing.
 
The Sources of Humour Include:
  • Puns
  • One-liners
  • Jokes
  • Vignettes
  • Life Observations
  • Quotations
  • Props
  • Cartoons
  • A Happy Spirit
 
IT Doesn’t Always Work.
Sometimes you just need to know when to move on. You should be able to respond to whether the laughter is building or decreasing.
 
Practice, Practice, Practice.
Very few people can tell a joke or a story really well the first time they do it.
Everyone needs to practice!

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