This book constitutes a comprehensive study of the field of language play from a linguistic viewpoint, demonstrating how linguistics can throw light on this important, but often under-rated, aspect of language use. It is both theoretical and descriptive in nature. In terms of the former, it proposes a ‘ludic’ function of language: that language is there to be played with, and that this is a universal feature of human activity. It rejects the traditional notion that language play is purely for ‘fun’ or entertainment and stresses the serious nature of certain ludic activities, such as cryptography. It discusses the notion of linguistic creativity, considering this to be inadequate in accounting for all aspects of language play. It assesses the value of popular terms such as ‘pun’ and introduces new terms/concepts such as ‘serendipity’ and ‘internym’ to account for important phenomena.

From a descriptive viewpoint, the major portion of the book is devoted to an examination of the various linguistic levels/systems involved in language play (syntax, phonology, morphology, lexis, semantics, discourse and graphology), followed by an extensive study, based on original research, of their application in various fields of linguistic endeavour, for example, advertising, joke-telling, newspaper headlines, secret language, social interaction, etc. A consideration of the human element—in terms of the varying relationships involved—is a constant feature.