Mockery through Language: A Sociocultural Representation of Transgender

Shaehroz Anjum Butt; Muhammad  Tazanfal Tehseem; Bushra  Shoukat

doi:10.47067/jlcc.v4i1.80

Authors

Shaehroz Anjum Butt
Muhammad Tazanfal Tehseem
Bushra Shoukat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47067/jlcc.v4i1.80

Keywords:

Verbal Humor, Mockery of trans genders, General Representation, Skill and Intellect, Self-depreciation.

Abstract

The present study tends to delineate trans genders as an object of mockery. Various humorous instances, adhering to the themes of general representation of trans genders, portrayal of their skill and intellect and lastly their self-depreciation are extracted from a number of Pakistani comedy talk shows like, Hasab-e-Hall, Khabardar, Loose Talk, and Gustakhian which bring forth the socio-cultural images of trans genders. The data has been categorized in Shades? categories of verbal humor, and then scrutinized by means of general theory of Verbal humor proposed by Attardo. The humorous utterances are first codified in the categories of verbal humor that have been quantified in percentages and then analyzed qualitatively by means of six knowledge resources which shine light on the linguistic patterns manifested in the composition of humor. The study highlights that a number of stereotypes about trans genders are prevalent in the society, i.e. they are dumb witted and ignorant beings, unable to participate in social activities, devoid of self-esteem and they are further considered only as a source of cheap entertainment. Language is a subtle tool for controlling reality. Humor and different discourses are disseminated for cornering different strata of society. So, the study is significant because it attempts to unravel the social biasness aimed to belittle transgender community by propagating certain ideas meant for the consumption of common masses. This discussion advocates for social change through an analysis of the humor embedded in the discourse creating and maintaining the stereotyped representation of trans genders.

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