Phrase

Japanese: もじり

A technique often used in popular literature to create humor. It is based on the use of puns, which give one word two different meanings, but the more incongruous the combination of the two meanings, the more effective the humor. Also, since the other meaning behind the one mentioned must be felt at the same time, the subject of the pun is a well-known phrase. Therefore, in early modern popular literature, there are many puns that liken the vulgarity of the present day to the elegant world of Japanese and Chinese classics, or that are forced to fit into that world.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

俗文芸において，滑稽を生み出すためにしばしば用いられる手法。一つの語句に異なる二つの意味を持たせる〈地口（じぐち）〉がその基本となるが，二義の取合せがちぐはぐであればあるほど，より効果的に滑稽が生じる。また，表の意味の裏にあるもう一つの意味が同時に感受されねばならないので，〈もじり〉の対象は人口に膾炙（かいしや）された文句が適する。したがって近世の俗文芸では，和漢の古典の〈雅〉の世界に当世の〈俗〉を見立てたり，こじつける趣向の〈もじり〉が多く見られる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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