The borders of humorous intent - The case of TV comedies

In this article, some communicative issues concerning the borders of humorous intent are modelled. In a theoretical section, the relationship between humorous intent, Neo-Gricean maxims and phases of humorous discourse are discussed. Here, a Humour Maxim is proposed to be the communicative equivalent of humorous intent. For this maxim, a principle of delayable fulfilment is introduced. Then, humorous intent and its absence are identified in two participations frameworks which arise from certain formats of TV comedies: a sitcom within a sitcom and candid camera comedies. Finally, some concrete constellations of humorous intent are discussed: humorous intent in the audience only (involuntary humour), humorous intent signalled, but not realized, and humorous intent withdrawn.