版主就讀美國研究所時，班上有位從對岸外交部來研習的資深翻譯員，她的中英口譯功力非常棒，上課的表現常令版主吃驚，不禁感歎人外有人、天外有天。這位翻譯程度遠高於班上同學，於是課餘就選修其他政治課程，與老美一起上課，順道體驗美國文化。版主記得有次載她去教會聽牧師講道，途中她突然迸出一句：老師課堂講的笑話，她多數都聽不懂。版主聽聞心有同感，深覺語言層級若是牽涉文化，恐怕不是光靠文法與單字便能理解。因此，版主建站時就決定要寫些親身接觸或者透過媒體體驗到的英美文化，一方面當成自己的筆記，另一方面則提供有興趣的網友參考。

今天版主要講解一個關於「雙關語 (pun)」的玩笑/笑話：knock-knock joke ( 敲門笑話)。這種西方兒童常玩的笑話有下面的結構 (來源：urban dictionary)

(定義) A knock-knock joke is a joke made about a caller at the door. It usually ends up as a play on words.

(結構) The structure of a knock-knock joke is as follows:

Person 1: Knock-knock.

Person 2: Who’s there?

Person 1: (Phrase A).

Person 2: ‘(Phrase A)’ who?

Person 1: (Phrase A) (funny punch line). - 笑點所在

(例子) Here is a knock-knock joke:

George: Knock-knock.

Reginald: Who’s there?

George: Em.

Reginald: ‘Em’ who?

George: Emphysema!* So you’d better quit smoking!

*emphysema = 肺氣腫 (disease that affects the lungs and makes breathing difficult)

其他有名的 knock-knock joke 還包括：

• A: Knock Knock
  B: Who’s there?
  A: Orange
  B: Orange who?
  A: Orange you even going to open the door? (Orange = Aren’t you)
  
• A: Knock knock
  B: who’s there?
  A: Wendy
  B: Wendy who?
  A: Wendy last time you take a bath? (Wendy = When did you)
  
• A: Knock knock
  B: Who’s there?
  A: Orange
  B: Orange who?
  A: Orange u going to give us a break by zipping credit card through the credit card machine?
  ** 電影《電子情書》(You’ve got mail) 的ㄧ段對白 **
• A: Knock knock
  B: Who’s there?
  A: Who
  B: Who who?
  A: Is there an owl in here? (Who Who => 美國人模仿的貓頭鷹叫聲 )
  
• A: Knock Knock
  B: Who’s there?
  A: Voodoo
  B: Voodoo who?
  A: Voodoo you think you are! (Voodoo = who do)
• A: Would you like to hear me tell a joke?
  B: Yeah, yeah. We’d like to hear a joke from you.
  A:Knock Knock
  B: Who’s there?
  A: Go Fuck yourselves.
  ** 電影《神鬼交鋒》(Catch me if you can) 的ㄧ段對白 **

網路上這樣的例子不勝枚舉，網友只要知道有這樣玩弄文字的小遊戲便可。順道一提，外國人有時後也會說 “Knock Knock” 來引起對方的注意。

 

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