How to riddle by Chinese names

Abstract

This paper studies how Chinese riddles, esp. how to riddle by a name. Based on lexico-constructional pragmatics, a Chinese riddle is a construction, with the configuration of FACE (P), EYE and BOTTOM (Q). P and Q are to hold a tension between identity and heterogeneity, and the entire riddle is to meet the (six) felicity conditions of riddles. Old means of Chinese riddles are discussed, to seek new riddling manners like use of foreign loans, material props, and face-bottom reversions. It is hypothesised that a rhetor with humour-consciousness, in informal or weak communication, can in principle generate a riddle, for instance, by names of places, people, and things. By some pragmatic constraint or even coercion, the riddler can boost expressibility and processibility of a riddle. With a case study, liberal use of riddles in more ways, for more occasions, is suggested to elevate communicators’ humour competence and humour happiness.