THE COMIC POWER OF OCCASIONALISMS IN CREATING LASTING HUMOR

Abstract

This study examines the comic power of occasionalisms in English literary comedy, focusing on their role as context-bound lexical innovations that generate humor through linguistic deviation. Drawing on examples from early modern drama to contemporary comic fantasy, the study analyzes how occasionalisms function as stylistic devices that exploit incongruity, analogy, and semantic distortion. Through close reading of works by Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Ben Jonson, Thomas Dekker, and Terry Pratchett, the paper demonstrates that occasionalisms contribute to comedy not only by producing immediate laughter but also by articulating social critique, character psychology, and genre parody. The analysis shows that while some occasionalisms remain confined to their original dramatic context, others achieve lasting cultural or linguistic resonance. Ultimately, the study argues that occasionalisms are a central mechanism through which English comedy transforms linguistic creativity into a durable humorous effect.