This collection investigates the intricate relationship between prosody and humor across various languages and theoretical frameworks. The book brings together leading researchers to explore the cutting edge of this new interdisciplinary field, utilizing cognitive semantic theories, discourse analysis, and anthropology. Contributions are firmly grounded in instrumental empirical data analysis, examining a wide array of contexts from casual conversations and sitcom scripts to riddles and intonation jokes. The unifying theme is the identification of markers signaling humorous or ironical intentions in speech and interaction.

This collection is recognized as the first comprehensive book-length study on prosody and humor, featuring contributions from leading experts in the field. The research presented is at the forefront of this emerging interdisciplinary area, offering diverse theoretical perspectives and empirical data. The broad scope, covering multiple languages and interaction types, provides a rich resource for scholars. The book's anchoring in empirical analysis ensures a rigorous examination of how speakers signal humorous or ironic intentions.