Human laughter is often perceived as infinitely varied, but it fundamentally breaks down into two types:
Laughter caused by tickling
Laughter caused by other stimuli
Anglophone novelists use a wide array of terms to describe laughter, suggesting a variety of forms.
Key Points
Richness in Language: The English language offers terms like chortle, chuckle, titter, hoot, giggle, snigger, howl, and guffaw to describe different laughter.
Scientific Context: Despite the linguistic diversity, scientifically, laughter can be categorized into the two distinct origins (tickling vs. non-tickling).
Associated Articles
This article is part of a broader discussion in the Science & Technology section exploring various scientific phenomena.
Other topics include the cell catalogue project, the impact of scientific publishing, and the potential of squid in overcoming needle phobia.
Additional Information
Publication Details:
Published in the Science & Technology section of The Economist on November 20, 2024.
Visuals: Includes photographs like a Comedy Club audience to illustrate the subject matter.
Related Topics
The article is situated within a context of ongoing discussions on various global and scientific topics like AI, the world economy, and climate change.
Offers a cultural perspective on language and phenomena like laughter, blending science with everyday human experiences.
Conclusion
The article concludes with the notion that while laughter can be linguistically diverse, its fundamental causes remain relatively simple and dichotomous.