In-joke
 Secret, by Eugen von Blaas | |
| Alternative names |
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| Type of joke | Esoteric |
An in-joke, also known as an inside joke or a private joke, is a joke with humour that is understandable only to members of an in-group; that is, people who are in a particular social group, occupation, or other community of shared interest. It is, therefore, an esoteric joke, only humorous to those who are aware of the circumstances behind it.[1]
Typically, inside jokes use a reference in the punchline to imply that which is associated with the reference. Often, this reference refers to the punchline of another joke which was already heard by the in-group.
In-jokes may exist within a small social clique, such as a group of friends, or extend to an entire profession or other relatively large group. When the in-group only includes people which heard the previous portion of a comedic set, the type of inside joke is known as a callback.
An example is:
- Q: What's yellow and equivalent to the axiom of choice?
- A: Zorn's lemon.[2]
Individuals not familiar with the mathematical result Zorn's lemma are unlikely to understand the joke. The joke is a pun on the name of this result.
Ethnic or religious groups may also have in-jokes.[3]
Philosophy
[edit]In-jokes are cryptic allusions to shared common ground that act as selective triggers; only those who share that common ground are able to respond appropriately.[4] An in-joke may be used to build community, sometimes at the expense of outsiders. Part of the power of an in-joke is that its audience knows that many do not understand it.[5]
An in-joke can also be used as a subtext, where people in the know may find humor in something not explicitly spoken. They may even apologize for doing so to a rookie, directly or indirectly stating that what they were laughing at was an in-joke.[6]
See also
[edit]- Shibboleth
- Cultural appropriation
- Fictitious entry
- Mathematical joke
- Military humor
- Order of the Occult Hand
- Dog-whistle politics
References
[edit]
- ^ "Inside joke Definition & Meaning". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. April 14, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ Vanderbilt University Department of Mathematics (February 5, 2019). "What's Yellow and Equivalent to the Axiom of Choice?".
- ^ "Wales Online: "Are the Welsh Really Funny?", 14 October 2006. Retrieved 6 September 2012". Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Randy Y. Hirokawa and Marshall Scott Poole (1996). Communication and Group Decision Making. Sage Publications Inc. p. 96. ISBN 076190462X.
- ^ Paul Brooks Duff (2001). Who Rides the Beast?: Prophetic Rivalry and the Rhetoric of Crisis in the Churches of the Apocalypse. Oxford University Press. p. 81. ISBN 019513835X.
- ^ Ben Tousey (2003). Acting Your Dreams: Use Acting Techniques to Interpret Your Dreams. Ben Tousey. pp. 118–119. ISBN 1-4140-0542-3.
External links
[edit]
Media related to In-jokes at Wikimedia Commons
