9.2 Plautus' use of language and wordplay

Plautus, the Roman comedy master, was a wordplay wizard. His puns, double entendres, and alliteration kept audiences in stitches. These clever linguistic tricks weren't just for laughs—they added depth to characters and got the crowd involved in the fun.

Translating Plautus' humor is tricky business. Language differences and cultural references make it a real challenge. But his witty wordplay has stood the test of time, influencing later comedy greats like Shakespeare and Molière.

Plautus' Use of Language and Wordplay

Types of Plautine verbal humor

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• Puns
  • Play on words with similar sounds but different meanings
  • Create humorous double meanings and clever twists (Miles Gloriosus, Pyrgopolynices puns on Greek words meaning "tower of many victories")
• Double entendres
  • Phrases with two interpretations, one innocent and one suggestive or risqué
  • Generate humor through innuendo and ambiguity (Casina, "sword" used as double entendre for male genitalia)
• Alliteration
  • Repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words
  • Produces playful, rhythmic effect that enhances comedic tone (Poenulus, "prius perperit" - she gave birth first)

Effectiveness of Plautine wordplay

• Enhances overall humor and entertainment value
  • Puns, double entendres, and alliteration elicit laughter from audience
  • Clever language keeps audience engaged and attentive (Pseudolus, Ballio's alliterative insults)
• Highlights wit and intelligence of characters
  • Wordplay demonstrates characters' cleverness and mental agility
  • Creates more dynamic interactions and adds depth to characterization (Epidicus, titular character's verbal sparring)
• Encourages audience participation and engagement
  • Wordplay prompts audience to actively listen and decipher multiple meanings
  • Fosters camaraderie between performers and audience as they share in jokes (Menaechmi, audience drawn into twins' confusion)

Challenges in translating Plautine humor

• Linguistic differences between Latin and target language
  • Puns and double entendres may not translate directly due to differences in word meanings and sounds
  • Translators must find creative solutions to convey essence of joke (Adapting puns, finding equivalent expressions)
• Navigating cultural and historical context
  • Wordplay may rely on cultural references or historical events familiar to original audience
  • Translators must decide how to handle references (Adapting to target culture, providing explanatory notes)
• Strategies for preserving humor
  • Finding equivalent puns or wordplay in target language that convey similar comedic effect
  • Using footnotes or endnotes to explain original wordplay and meaning
  • Adapting joke to target culture while maintaining spirit of original humor (Modernizing references, finding cultural equivalents)

Language in Plautus' comedic style

• Distinguishing feature of Plautine comedy
  • Extensive use of puns, double entendres, and alliteration sets Plautus apart
  • Wordplay becomes hallmark of his comedic style and contributes to enduring popularity (Lasting appeal, influence on later playwrights)
• Reflects Plautus' skill as a playwright
  • Clever and intricate language demonstrates mastery of comic craft
  • Ability to manipulate words and create multiple layers of meaning highlights intelligence and wit (Trinummus, Stasimus' monologue)
• Influences later comic traditions
  • Plautine comedic style, reliant on wordplay, influences later generations of comic playwrights
  • Legacy seen in works of Shakespeare, Molière, and other masters who employ witty wordplay and puns (The Comedy of Errors, Tartuffe)