Proper Names in English Humorous Discourse: at the Crossroads of Fundamental Theories and Entertainment

The aim is to reveal the role of personal names in creating comic effect in different types of humorous discourse. A special focus is placed on J.S. Mill’s, A. Gardiner’s, B. Russel’s theories of proper names. Emphasis is also laid on the contribution of H. Spencer, Ch. Darwin, B. Jonson and W. Shakespeare to the development of the general theory of humour. The basic research methods are semiotic, linguo-stylistic and etymological analysis, data interpretation, website traffic analysis. Theoretical works by British philosophers, scientists and writers can be used as a methodological foundation for studying personal names in humorous discourse. Analysis of English onomastic jokes, puzzles, articles from British magazines and internet-memes proves the pervasive nature of onomastic humour in English. The author hypothesizes that the interest of the most outstanding British thinkers taken in personal names and humour are hardly accidental and can be explained by the uniqueness of British culture and national identity.