Functions of Humor in Memory Narratives of the Tsunami Disaster in Thailand
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Abstract
Although humor seems to be incongruous with tense or tragic situations, some previous studies demonstrate that humor occurs in other situations and performs various functions. This study aims at examining the functions of humor in memory narratives of the tsunami disaster in Thailand. The data consists of 60 records of memory narratives from the disaster victims about their experiences in the tsunami disaster which occurred on 26 December 2004 on the west coast of Southern Thailand. In total, 306 cases of humor were extracted. The findings reveal that there are four functions of humor in the memory narratives of the tsunami disaster victims, namely creating a positive attitude, coping with negative emotions, softening criticism, and expressing fear without receding to traumatic memories. The most preferred function is to create a positive attitude, allowing the victims to return to a normal life. The results also indicate that humor is a mechanism to show acceptance toward the calamity and the aftermath of the tsunami disaster.
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