8.5 SUPPUMENTARY TIPS
Humor and Wit
Humor
Most of us wouldn't risk an international relationship by trying out a little of our own home-brewed humor. This is a pity, because humor is the most effective social cement known to mankind. This isn't a question of learning English jokes off by heart and then trying them out. It's one of courage and social confidence. And there are numerous ways to ensure you don't fall foul of cultural misunderstandings in the process. You can, for instance, protect yourself afterwards with the phrase 'Just kidding'.
Then, of course, there's always the strategy of selling your wit as made in Germany: u201cThat's German humor for you.u201d Say this with a quiet smile on your face and your listeners will think they are being given insider ac-cess to a culturally unique society. Another trick is to continue what you are saying afterwards with the disclaimer 'But seriously'. Remember there is enormous peer pressure on 'getting' jokes, so leverage this for all it's worth. So when they stare back blankly in response to your most hi-larious gag, look pityingly on them with the follow-up: 'Don't get it?'
Humor is, after all, one of your most strategic communication forms when it comes to conflict and bad news. Risking it in e-mails is a little trickier, and will require plenty of smiles and quotations marks. Running jokes and insider jokes also create cozy subcultures which needn't be lim-ited to monotingual speakers. So introduce others: 'That's just my senseof humor. You'll get used to it. ' In other words, welcome to the club.