Non sequitur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A non sequitur (pronounced /ˌnɒnˈsɛkwɨtər/) is a conversational and literary device, often used for comical purposes (as opposed to its use in formal logic). It is a comment which, due to its apparent lack of meaning relative to what it follows,[1] seems absurd to the point of being humorous or confusing, as in the following joke:
- Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?
- A: Fish.
The use of non sequitur in humor can be deliberate or unintentional. Literally, the expression is Latin for "it does not follow."[2] In other literature, a non sequitur can denote an abrupt, illogical, unexpected or absurd turn of plot or dialogue not normally associated with or appropriate to that preceding it. It is a type of logical fallacy.
The non sequitur can be understood as the converse of cliché. Traditional comedy and drama can depend on the ritualization and predictability of human emotional experiences, where the Theatre of the Absurd uses disjunction and unpredictability.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. Oxford University Press, 2009.
- ^ Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary. http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/non%20sequitur
