Can Germans Be Funny?

Sitcoms are not flattering in their portrayals of Teutonic humor. Last year Family Guy and South Park both took swipes at Germanic stoicism. And the entire country of England has been making fun of an alleged German dearth of humor since the Anglo-Saxons migrated from there in the first place to help “administer” local Celtic communities.

Last July on a trip to Germany I had the opportunity to perform standup at a comedy night in Berlin. I do not speak German, but nearly all Germans speak English, so language wasn’t a problem. I did try to begin with a joke in German about my recent trip to Heidelberg, but I butchered mein Deutsche and my off-the-cuff joke about hoping to further cross-cultural exchanges with local women fell flat, so the opener roused only minimal chuckles.

Thereafter I delved into my standard routine, and dare I say it, stole the show. Germans were rolling with laughter, someone bought me a pilsner, and whenever I’m next in Berlin I’m cozy with the surprisingly large Anglo-German standup community.

Now, you can say that because Germans found me hilarious that they have a bad sense of humor. But you certainly can’t lobby that they have no sense of humor. They guffawed, after all.

There are multiple reasons for the myth of German seriousness. Its primary source is the English. Disregard everything you’ve ever heard English people say about German humor. Actually, scratch everything they’ve ever said about all non-English humor at all. As a people the English literally believe they are the sole proprietors of wit on the entire planet, and the rest of us are eking by on fart jokes.

I frequently find that when I meet English people they are initially confused if I’m sarcastic because it doesn’t occur to them that an American understands the concept. But if I preface one of my own jokes with, “The other day my English friend told me…” they will laugh and say, “Looks like you’ve heard some dry British wit, then eh? Har har!

”When my English friends start pontificating about how British humor is “dry” and “more sophisticated,” I nod seriously and then ask if they enjoy carpooling with the French in terms of air craft carriers. It’s a low blow, but they can’t tell when I’m being sarcastic, so it’s okay.

The other big reason for perceived German humorlessness is to do with language. Language makes the rhythm of humor different for what either group is accustomed to. The Germans like to slap all of the important words in a sentence, such as the subject and verb, at the very end. So while in English you would say, “We trained our pet monkey to attack Scientologists,” in German it would come out like “Trained we to attack Scientologists, our monkey.” Or something like that. Either group is expecting the punchline at a different point in the sentence.

Factor in as well that English is a vague and polyglot language, enabling us to play with its ambiguity for amusing effect. I try and say the words “erect” (to build), “lubricate” (as with machinery) and “bitch” (the literal and non-offensive definition of a female dog) as often as I can in normal conversation, just to see people’s eyeballs bulge.

Conversely, Germans have words for everything, and they are notoriously specific. Their word for “contraception” is “Schwangerschaftverhütungsmittel.” Pulled apart into English components, that’s “pregnancy averting remedy method.” Which leaves little possibility for interpretive error.In my experience there’s also a German cultural preference for the ludicrous over the ridiculous. Technically speaking, “ ridiculous” humor is where you make fun of something (you redicule it). “Ludicrous” shares a root with “lunatic,” and pertains to situations which are absurd or nonsensical. I’ll expand on the difference in another post, but suffice it to say that good-natured ribbing will go over better in the Anglosphere, whereas absurdist jokes play well in the Rhineland.

If you still don’t believe me about the existence of German humor, the Fleggaard commercial linked to below should settle the issue. However, noting that Germans are sublimely unphased by public nudity, the clip is NOT SAFE FOR WORK. Don’t click on it and get mad at me and send fiery hate e-mail if you’re offended by skydiving topless women. I warned you. And do not click on it if you are presently at your place of business.

Unless, of course, you’re in Germany. Then it’s totally cool: Fleggaard Television Commercial.

If you are at work and your boss is squeamish about naked Aryans soaring majestically through the air like skimpy Valkyries, then below find a more benign example of German humor for your amusement:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_FFaOya5Nw[/youtube]

*Editors Note: A friend of mine (who is British, incidentally) pointed out to me that there is no actual etymological root shared between “ludicrous” and “lunatic.” I didn’t think anyone would catch that– good on him for keeping me honest. However in Humor Theory the “crazy” element of both still stands, should the subject come up at a cocktail party or something.