This text is a detailed analysis of the most valuable word plays and their underlying types of word formation in "How I Met Your Mother". It puts special focus on the combination of different word formations being involved at the same time.
"How I Met Your Mother" – often abbreviated to HIMYM – is an American sitcom that follows a non-linear story in which the life of five friends living in New York is described. As a framing device the main character Ted Mosby tells his children how he met their mother. Using retrospective view he recounts in how far different actions and events in his and his friends’ past finally made him get to meet his future wife. His narration covers a time of 25 years and is told throughout eight seasons in 208 episodes. Throughout the story different kinds of linguistic word formations are used, often in types of puns and word plays to create humorous situations. Especially Barney Stinson, one of Ted Mosby’s best friends uses recurring puns by inventing new terms which he uses over and over again throughout the story.
Table of Content
1. Introduction
1.1 Definition of „How I Met Your Mother“
1.2 Structure of paper
2. Simple Forms
2.1 Acronyms
2.2 Affixes
2.2.1 Prefixes
2.2.2 Infixes
2.2.3 Suffixes
2.3 Backformation
2.4 Blending
2.5 Borrowing
2.6 Clips
2.7 Compounds
2.7.1 One word compounds
2.7.2 Two word compounds
2.7.3 Three word compounds
2.8 Eponyms
2.9 Homophony
3. Mixed Forms
3.1 Backformation + Inference
3.2 Eponym + Backformation (+ Metonymy)
3.3 Eponym + Hypocorism + Metonymy + Backformation
3.4 Clips + Compounds
3.5 Clip + Compound + Eponym
3.6 Splinter + Compound
3.7 Splinter + Borrowing + Eponym
3.8 Splinter + Borrowing + Compound
3.9 Compound + Metonymy
3.10 Compound + Hypocorism + Backformation
3.11 Compound + Borrowing
3.12 Compound + Borrowing + Clip + Eponym
3.13 Compound + Suffix + Splinter
3.14 Blending + Hypocorism
3.15 Blending + Eponym
3.16 Set phrase + Metonymy
4. Non-defined word formations
5. Miscellaneous Features
5.1 Alliteration
5.2 Set phrases
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to identify, categorize, and examine the recurring linguistic word formation processes used in the American sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" to generate humor. The study seeks to analyze how these wordplays are constructed, how they function within the series' narrative, and how they contribute to characterization and the show's comedic style.
- Analysis of simple word formation processes (acronyms, affixes, clipping, compounding).
- Investigation of complex "mixed" word formations and their role in creative neologisms.
- Examination of character-driven puns, particularly those attributed to Barney Stinson and Ted Mosby.
- Evaluation of how humor in television scripts often deviates from standard linguistic rules.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 Backformation
Robin Scherbatsky used to work as a singer when she was a teenager in Canada. Her artist name was Robin Sparkles which can be seen as a backformation. The verb “to sparkle” refers to her look as a teenage pop singer when she used to wear glittering outfits. So the surname “Sparkles” can be classified as a verb to noun backformation from “to sparkle”.
A running gag between Ted Mosby and Robin Scherbatsky is the usage of “general” described as the so-called “mock salutes” in season 9. They salute whenever another person used a military rank before any expression in a sentence. That habit started when the two were dating but they somehow stopped it after their breakup as they only started to share awkward looks when someone did it. Nevertheless from time to time both still salute unconsciously when they do react before thinking about it. This private joke is first mentioned in S3E9 in the episode “Slapsgiving“. In this episode a minor character uses the expression “major buzzkill”, which causes Ted and Robin to salute without being aware. After their thanksgiving dinner Ted talks about a “major clean-up”, making all present people salute.
In S5E23 which is called “The Wedding Bride“, the friends talk about a “major baggage” that every single person carries with him or her, resulting in Ted and Robin saluting.
Throughout S9E23 (“Last Forever – Part One“) Ted says goodbye to his friends, saying it has been a "major pleasure". In “Last Forever – Part Two“ there used to exist a scene that has been deleted for the final version that aired on television. In this scene, Robin tells Ted that she does not have any “major problems”, leading to Ted turning back to Robin when leaving and saluting.
Recapitulating it can be stated that “major” is a running gag throughout the series that is based on a noun to adjective backformation.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the series "How I Met Your Mother" and outlines the structure of the paper, emphasizing the focus on linguistic word formations used as comedic devices.
2. Simple Forms: This section classifies fundamental word formation processes such as acronyms, affixes, clipping, borrowing, and compounding, providing examples from the sitcom for each category.
3. Mixed Forms: This chapter examines complex word formations that involve the combination of several different processes, leading to creative and unique wordplays.
4. Non-defined word formations: This section discusses neologisms and fantasy terms that defy strict classification due to their creative and subjective nature within the series.
5. Miscellaneous Features: This chapter covers additional linguistic phenomena, specifically alliteration and the frequent use of set phrases (catchphrases) that contribute to the show's humor.
6. Conclusion: The concluding section summarizes the primary findings, highlighting the significant role of characters like Barney Stinson in shaping the series' linguistic humor.
Keywords
How I Met Your Mother, word formation, linguistics, humor, puns, backformation, blending, compounding, acronyms, eponyms, set phrases, sitcom, script analysis, neologisms, morphology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
This work fundamentally explores the linguistic techniques and word formation processes used to create humor and puns in the American television sitcom "How I Met Your Mother".
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The research explores various morphological processes, including simple forms like acronyms and affixes, complex mixed forms, and the specific application of alliteration and recurring catchphrases.
What is the main goal of this study?
The primary goal is to identify and classify the most recurring and valuable wordplays in the series and to analyze how these linguistic inventions function to create humorous situations.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study uses a descriptive and taxonomic approach, examining episode scripts to identify linguistic features, which are then classified based on established morphological definitions and linguistic theories.
What does the main body of the work focus on?
The main body focuses on a detailed categorization of word formations, moving from simple types like clipping and borrowing to complex, mixed forms that combine multiple processes simultaneously.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include word formation, morphology, sitcom humor, puns, backformation, compounding, and specific linguistic phenomena like eponyms and set phrases.
How does Barney Stinson contribute to the linguistic landscape of the show?
Barney Stinson is identified as the most influential character for linguistic invention, frequently creating new terms (e.g., "bro," "brocode") that become iconic parts of the show's vocabulary.
Why do some terms like "lambor-cuzzi" prove difficult to classify?
These terms are difficult because they often blend multiple processes (e.g., blending, compounding, metonymy) and incorporate fantasy elements, making a single, strict linguistic classification subjective or impossible.
What is the significance of the "right-hand-head-rule" in the compounds analyzed?
The research concludes that in the endocentric compounds found in the series, the right-hand element consistently functions as the head, governing the basic meaning of the constructed term.
- Quote paper
- I. Magel (Author), 2015, Linguistic Features in “How I Met Your Mother”. A Linguistic Analysis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354383