A Theory of Funny-Sounding Words

Why is Snunkoople funny?


Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images

http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2015/12/14/why_is_the_nonsense_word_snunkoople_funnier_than_the_equally_made_up_word.html

1)  What numbers are used as evidence in this piece?  Which numbers would be most helpful to dispute the findings?

2)  Why might a Chinese student feel differently about this than a Canadian?  In what ways would the publisher of Dr. Seuss' books think about this study?

3)  How is this connected to social media?  The news?  Harry Potter?  

4)  What if you found out your favorite pop star changed their name according to this principle?

5)  How might this be significant to a political campaign?  What is a long-term consequence in this topic?  What are some basic assumptions about humor?  To what degree does this story change the way you view your name?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can poll their peers and acquaintances about common "hated" words and chart their results.  They can then think of replacements for the most egregious words to suggest for future use.

2)  Students can chart the history of the word cool and its synonyms then predict future synonyms 1,5, 20 years out.

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Language

Nicki Minaj to Perform in Angola

Should Celebrities Appear for Leaders Known for Oppression and Brutality?

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/world/nicki-minaj-concert-in-angola-draws-human-rights-complaint.html?pagewanted=all

1)  What evidence would sway your opinion one way or the other?  Does the amount of money make a difference?

2)  In what capacities might Beyonce think about this differently than Nicki?  Your sibling and the daughter of Dos Santos?

3)  In what ways is this connected to sports?  To Martin Skrelli and Bernie Sanders?  Schindler's List?

4)  Would you change your mind if you found out people in the country with your religious beliefs were being persecuted?  Hair color?  About North Korea?  Germany in 1942?  Mongolia in 1210?  

5)  To what degree does this affect you?  What is the short term consequence?  What are the underlying assumptions about pop stars that affect this story?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can chart the responses of their classmates and teachers on the amount of money they would take to perform in a similar situation and analyze their results.

2)  Students can write a series of 5 tweets to Nicki Minaj supporting or protesting her decision and predict the outcome of a fictitious back-and-forth with an online opponent.      

AoK:  Ethics

WoK:  Reason