On Joke
There is nothing in the realm of conversation that Balinese love more than a good joke. A “good joke” in Balinese standard may sometimes sound off-color, rude, or ribald in westerner’s ears, since it puts no mercy on one deformity such as hare lips or crippled; appearance such as bald head or protruding teeth and its favorite topic revolves mainly on sex. A good joker is the one who can produce a joke on these sensitive topics without offending anybody.
Joke in Bali does not belong only to the grown-ups even children make jokes that are applauded by the grown-ups. Children grow up in a closely packed environment where it is impossible to conceal everything including the facts of sex and Balinese are certainly not prudes. Balinese children can produce a ribald pun and bawdy jokes are enthusiastically told by young and old.
Generous sprinkles of jokes color everyday conversation of the Balinese, a guest will thrust a little joke to praise the refreshment offered by his host and the host will contrive a joke to parry the thrust. A boy will drain all his joke resource to find a suitable pun to flirt a girl. A married man will throw a joke to his bachelor friend asking when will he get married, his friend will throw a counter joke on miserable life of a wedded man. A conversation between friends is actually a war of joke. One will make a joke on the recent activity of his friend which forbade him to mingle with others. This kind of “attack” will be block by his friend a little joke on the bad fate befallen to him for having such as demanding activity which cut him off from his friends. The exchange of the joke will continue as long as the conversation last.
The Balinese delight in puns, double meaning and rhyme word. The most favorite types of jokes are the ones which contain puns, double meanings or rhyme words. These types of jokes are highly appreciated for the difficulties in contriving these sorts of jokes, the good quality of the jokes and the finesse of the joker.
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