“I’m just kidding”

Abstract This paper investigates the role of claims to non-seriousness in ‘jocular pretence’ teasing sequences ( Haugh 2016 ). Drawing on 50 hours of Greek scripted interactions from popular TV sitcoms, we examined 18 ‘biting’ ( Boxer & Cortés-Conde 1997 ) teases involving overt claims to non-seriousness. Our analysis adopts an interactional pragmatic approach ( Haugh 2013 ) with a particular focus on the sequential and moral/social implications of claims to non-seriousness, as well as on the ways these were informed by the conventions of the said genre. The analysis brings to the fore a systematic relation between the location and uptake of such claims, namely that they emerged after serious rejections of teases, and they were subsequently responded to in low-aligning ways. It also shows that these claims were used by teasers to project positive self-identities of politeness and sensitivity while preserving their relationship with the teasees. Overall, the analysis points to an intertwined relation between humour, identity, im/politeness-in-interaction.