Publication Details
Abstract
Humour is a familiar yet elusive feature of human communication. It draws on mental agility, cultural knowledge, emotional attunement, and the capacity to interpret what is left untold. This research examines humour as a communicative resource through a comparative aspect, using literary texts from English and Uzbek traditions. Works by Jerome K. Jerome, Oscar Wilde, Abdulla Qahhor, and G‘afur G‘ulom are analysed to demonstrate how humour builds rapport, defuses tension, preserves face, and voices social critique indirectly. While the cognitive mechanisms underpinning humour appear broadly similar across cultures, its stylistic realisation is shaped by distinct literary conventions and social norms. The findings contribute to pragmatics, literary stylistics, and cross-cultural communication studies.