英国幽默的特点

英国幽默的特点

British humour has a reputation for being puzzling to non-British speakers of English. Nonetheless, many UK comedy TV shows which use it as a basis have been internationally popular.
Some themes which underpin twentieth-century British humour were:-

Smut and innuendo with sexual and scatological themes, typified by
·the seaside postcards of Donald McGill ,
·the humour of Benny Hill,
·the series of Carry On films, and
·the comic magazine VIZ .

Disrespect to members of the establishment and authority typified by
·Beyond the Fringe, stage revue from the 1960s
·Private Eye, satirical magazine
·Spitting Image TV puppet comedy lampooning the famous and powerful

The Absurdity and banality of everyday life typified by
·the Goons, and
·Monty Python.

The War between parents/teachers and their children. Typified by
·the Beano and the Dandy comic books of publisher D C Thompson.
·The Just William books by Richmal Crompton.

The British class system especially pompous or dim-witted members of the upper / middle classes. Typified by
·the Jeeves and Wooster books of P. G. Wodehouse , and
·the Dad's Army comedy TV series
·Fawlty Towers comedy TV series.
·You Rang M'Lord? comedy TV series

The embarrassment of social ineptitude. Typified by
·Mr Bean comedy TV series staring Rowan Atkinson
·Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em comedy TV series staring Michael Crawford.

British comedy and British sitcoms blend elements of all of these in varying weaves.

for example：
《Nothing》
Once, late at night, an Englishman came out of his room into the corridor of a hotel and asked the servant to bring him a glass of water. The servant did as he was asked. The Englishman re-entered his room, but a few minutes later he came into the corridor again and once more asked the servant for a glass of water. The servant brought him another glass of water. Every few minutes the Englishmen would come out of his room and repeat his request. After a half-hour the astonished servant decided to ask the Englishman what he was doing with the water. "Nothing," the Englishman answered imperturbably, "It's simply that my room is on fire."

《没什么》
一天晚上，一个英国人从他住的旅店房间里走出来。来到走廊上，叫旅店的服务员给他拿一杯水来。服务员按他的要求做了。英国人回到了他的房间里，几分钟后他又来到走廊上，让服务员再给他送一杯水。服务员又给他送了一杯水。每隔几分钟。英国人就走出房间重复他的要求。 半小时之后．这位感到惊讶的服务员决定问问房客要这些水干什么，英国人不谎不忙地回答：“没什么．只不过是我的房间里起火了。”