To Pun Or Not To Pun

Regarding The Pun

A pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words for an intended humorous effect. It has been in use in the English language since William Shakespeare’s day. The word pun is thought to be a contraction of the now archaic pundigrion which originated from punctilious which in turn was derived from the Italian puntiglio, diminutive of punto “point” from the Latin punctus past participle of pungere, “to prick”.

Although the Oxford English Dictionary first listed the usage of paronomasia in 1579, humans have been punning far earlier than that. Puns can be found in Egyptian hieroglyphic writings ( 3200 BC to 400 AD.) According to Egyptologist Geraldine Pinch, “Many Egyptian words which looked different when written in  hieroglyphics sound the same when pronounced. This was thought of as a meaningful connection rather than as mere coincidence. Much myth-making arises from puns, such as the story that men (remtj) came from tears (remtj) of the sun god.”

The art of the pun is often maligned, but it has had its share of aficionados. Many famous writers did their share of punning. William Shakespeare wrote puns and so did Lewis Carroll.
Edgar Allen Poe wrote of pun-envy, “Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are least able to utter them.” Indeed.  James Boswell, who wrote a biography of lexicographer Samuel Johnson, who by the way was not a fan of puns, suggested, “A good pun may be admitted among the small excellencies of lively conversation.”

Sci-Fi writers too have taken a turn at jotting down a puns on paper or placing them within their stories. Isaac Asimov was found of pun word play and Piers Anthony’s works are filled with humorous puns.

And so the pun lives on today. Enlivened on televisions Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Jay Ward delivered puns through his Aesop & Son characters.

Now here’s a set-up for a pun using Ward’s Aesop & Son as a vehicle.