USAGE: Knock and knock-knock

I wrote:

> > The verb "knock" actually has two senses in StdE anyway [...]
I meant to add here a decidedly unorthodox knock-knock joke.

<explanation>
But for the benefit of non-anglophones, I better define "knock-knock
joke", since it is a specifically anglophone (and juvenile) language game.
The joke takes the form of a dialogue adhering to the following
template:

A:      Knock, knock!
B:      Who's there?
A:      X.
B:      X who?
A:      X Y.

where "X" is used in an unexpected way in "X Y".
</explanation>

<example>My overall favorite is this one:

A:      Knock, knock!
B:      Who's there?
A:      Formaldehyde.
B:      Formaldehyde who?
A:      Form all de hiding places come de Indians!

</example>

A:      Knock!
B (puzzled): Who's there?
A:      Opportunity!
B:      Opportunity who?
A:      Opportunity only knocks once [a well-known proverb].

<ob>
And there is this hideous version:

A:      Knock, knock!
B:      Who's there?
A:      Banana.
B:      Banana who?
A (breaking the rules): Knock, knock!
B:      Who's there?
A:      Banana.
Iterate ad nauseam, until A says:
A:      Orange.
B:      Orange who?
A:      Orange you [i.e. "Aren't you"] glad I didn't say "banana" this time?
</ob>

Patrick Dunn wrote:

> I taught a unit on black English once, and got the most incredibly hostile
> reaction from both white and black students.
Not surprising.

> Although I speak what I call "farmer talk" most of the time,
Which no doubt explains why your mail comes from "corn.cso.niu.edu"?

--
There is / one art                   || John Cowan <jcowan@...>
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