29 Funny or not?

Whether we find a joke funny or not largely depends on where we have been brought up.

我们觉得一则笑话是否好笑,很大程度上取决于我们是在哪儿长大的。

The sense of humour is mysteriously bound up with national characteristics.

幽默感与民族有着神秘莫测的联系。

A Frenchman, for instance, might find it hard to laugh at a Russian joke.

譬如,法国人听完一则俄国笑话可能很难发笑。

In the same way, a Russian might fail to see anything amusing in a joke which would make an Englishman laugh to tears.

同样的道理,一则可以令英国人笑出泪来的笑话,俄国人听了可能觉得没有什么可笑之处。

Most funny stories are based on comic situations.

大部分令人发笑的故事都是根据喜剧情节编写的。

In spite of national differences, certain funny situations have a universal appeal.

尽管民族不同,有些滑稽情节却能产生普遍的效果。