Glossary
A glossary of humorous terms used in the book
Banter - An exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery; pulling someone’s legs.
Brillanti – Originally, in the 19th century, the term referred to a comic actor in a farce, who was the force around whom most of the humour focus. Eventually, this main actor was being given more important roles and had more determining speaking parts, even long monologues and so his status grew. By time, the word brillante changed its meaning to refer to a high quality actor whose character commanded the plot). See: Kummiedja brillanti.
Buffu (buffoon) - In Maltese this refers to a clown. In the vernacular the local term may also be used to insinuate that somebody is behaving like a fool. The term comes from the Italian buffo which refers to any kind of clown.
Bużullotti - A Maltese word deriving from Italian, it refers to a conjuror's tricks. In Maltese it also refers to any funny underhand or fraudulent dealings.
Buzzetti – Comic sketches
Commedia dell'Arte - This is a historic term for plays staged in 16th and 18th century Italy. The actors of the Commedia dell'Arte originally started by performing improvised sketches in public places. Its genesis may be related to the carnival of Venice, where by 1570 the author and actor Andrea Calmo had created the character Il Magnifico, the precursor to Il Vecchio (old man) and Pantalone, the miserly Venetian merchant. In the Commedia dell’Arte there are stock characters that by time became popular, such as ‘the old man’, or ‘the military officer’ full of false bravado. There were also characters such as Dottor Gratiano, the pedant from Bologna, or l'Arlecchino, the mischievous servant from Bergamo. The famous Pulcinella was created in Naples.
Dark humour - Also called black humour, this is made up of sinister jokes or situations whereby the comic goes to extremes by ridiculing the victim even in tragic circumstances, or else by mimicking his physical or mental disabilities. Dark humour is intended to make the audience uncomfortable as it breaks all taboos.
Deadpan - This term is the same as dry humour or dry wit. This is humour that is delivered without any semblance of emotion and the person gives away none of his feelings.
Double entendre - A play on words, a pun intended to make one laugh. The person delivering such jokes makes full use of the double meaning of a word or phrase. The word might not have a double meaning, but it might sound phonetically the same and so the joke is delivered to confuse the listener until the double meaning is understood.
Dry humour - Same as deadpan.
English humour - The term may refer to the generally acclaimed belief that English people, (I assume all British), easily accept a joke or laugh at a humorous comment, joke or comic situation. The same term also refers to the quality of humour employed whether by stage comedians or by any one else. When delivering humour the British are well famous for their use of deadpan in order to hide true or made-up emotions. Some believe that English humour is often an attempt to ridicule others with sarcastic jokes or else, on the contrary, it is meant to depreciate oneself, if nothing else, even to cover up acute embarrassment. There is more to say on the variants of English humour.
Epigram - A short pithy saying, usually in verse, that often contains a quick, sometimes satirical twist at the end. The subject presented in an epigram is usually a single thought or event.
Farsa - Maltese for the word farce. This is a reference to a comic play, more often than not containing an insubstantial plot but with plenty of jokes, slapstick included, meant to keep the audience continuously laughing. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a ridiculous situation in real life. The etymology of the word traces itself from the Italian verb farcire, that is, ‘to stuff’, as in, ‘fill in’ or ‘insert’ with all sorts of ingredients.
Ironic humour – Joke intended to mock somebody by using statements that are contrary to the intended meaning; same as sarcastic, although sarcastic this often refers to ironic humour which is malicious and spiteful.
Kummiedja - A comedy, a humorous play - in olden times, the Maltese term also used to refer to acrobatic acts as in a circus. A visiting circus was referred to locally as Tal-Kummiedja. Kummidjant is a comic actor. Metaphorically, the term is used in a derogatory way of insulting somebody by calling him a clown.
Kummiedja brillanti - A comedy which is meant to keep its humorous tone at a certain level. Its aim is to bring out a happy and funny ending but not to produce continuous belly-splitting laughter.
Lampoon – A harsh satire usually directed against an individual.
Makkjetta - A comic song, a serenade or ballad that is sung along or in a duet where the lyrics are usually light or intentionally funny. The makkjetti were usually intended to act as fillers in vaudeville shows; hence the Italian term macchietta meaning ‘a spot’. This genre covers anything from mocking someone to recounting an amorous adventure. Makkjetti were very popular in the theatres throughout the first half of the 20th century.
Praspura – A real life mishap or incident. An anecdote recounted with the purpose of entertaining somebody. Books have been written that contain such a term as for instance, Il-Praspar ta’ Ġaħan; Il-Praspar Miktuba minn Dun Xand Cortis. In today’s vernacular the term is used when someone makes a gaffe.
Pulcinella & Pulċinell - The Neapolitan pulcinella, or punchinella was a stock character who appeared in carnival or in the theatre, dressed in white and wearing a mask that had a long beak-like nose. Pulcinella often carries with him macaroni pasta and a wooden spoon. His temperament is mean, vicious and crafty. He often pretends to play the fool. Used metaphorically by the Maltese, the term pulċinell or purċinell, refers to a buffoon, such as a person who behaves oddly, or one who makes mistakes repeatedly.
Quip - A clever or witty remark; an odd or fantastic action or thing; a sharp sarcastic remark.
Sarcastic humour - Being ironical, dark and pessimistic when taunting somebody or criticising someone or something to hurt one’s feelings. Being cynical is also being sarcastic and pessimistic.
Sardonic humour - A comment that is scornful and cynical.
Satire - The use of irony to portray persons or social institutions as ridiculous or corrupt. This type of humour was and still is especially intended to mock or criticise politicians and other public figures.
Sitcom - A term short for situation comedy. A humorous drama based on situations that might arise in everyday life, often amongst a group of people such as family and neighbours.
Slapstick - Humour acted out in a physical manner such as when someone suffers an accident, intentionally or otherwise, like slipping on a banana skin, or getting drenched by a bucket of water thrown out of a window. Humorous situations purposefully acted in body language that is easily understood by the audience.
Vaudeville - A type of entertainment that was popular in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During vaudeville there would be many different artistes performing all sorts of acts. The term is said to have originated in Vau-de-Vire, a town in Northwest France. The Maltese used to call this entertainment Vudvill.
Wicked joke - A joke that is intended to show the person or a situation in poor light, without really meaning to hurt him.
Zany - This adjectival term originates from the Italian carnival stock character Zanni who wore a striped costume to which were hung many small tinkling bells. The masked person used to resemble somewhat the arlecchino (harlequin). In Italy this character typically represented an ignorant conniving servant and he was also known as il Buffo - the clown. According to the Gozitan historian Agius Sultana, this comic character was introduced into the Malta carnival scene from Italy and became known as Żanni. The English adjective ‘zany’, derives from this term and is used to describe a comedy, or a crazy sense of humour.