Representations of ethnicity in stand-up Comedy

Abstract: This study has two main aims: (1) to look at, and analyze, how language is used in stand-up comedy in order to portray characters of different ethnicity, and (2) to look at how these characters are portrayed and what images of these ethnic groups are conveyed to the audience. The main results are that the linguistic features typically associated with the ethnic group in question are strengthened and exaggerated in order for the viewers to determine the characters’ ethnic origin more easily, and that the characters are often displayed as racial stereotypes. In this particular essay two stand-up shows by comedian Dave Chappelle are examined