RHETORICAL MEANS CREATING LAUGHTER IN FOLK SONGS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Abstract

Figurative language devices such as exaggeration, personification, simile, contrast, and wordplay, which create humor, are frequently used in folk songs of the South Central region of Vietnam, reflecting the unique characteristics and culture of this area. Based on theories of humor and an examination of folk songs containing these devices, this study systematizes and focuses on analyzing the characteristics of these humorous rhetorical devices in South Central folk songs, comparing them with folk songs from other regions. The research results reveal the nuances of humor, aesthetic tendencies, and cultural characteristics of the South Central region. These include the rustic beauty, the connection to nature, the distinctive colors in cultural life, and the folk phonetics. This study contributes to affirming the value of folk songs from the South Central region and the beauty of the soul and the linguistic talent of the working people.