Double Dealing III: The Pun

About the Book

The Pun is Older than Punctuation The start and use of punctuation occurred around 1500 AD. Prior to this no commas, periods, quotation marks, etc., were used in writing. What one doesn’t have, one learns to do without. Books then were rare, no printing presses. Somewhere in those early years someone decided interpretative marks were needed to enhance writing. Yet puns were employed much earlier. In the New Testament, Matthew 16:18, Jesus is quoted as having said, "You are Peter, on this rock, I will build my Church". The word Peter in that ancient language translates as "rock. In effect a pun. Another early pun – the headless horseman wore an unusual necklace. A young St. Augustine prayed, "Lord, make me pure, but not yet". Someone punned him as being a "roaming Catholic". Puns are inferential; they twist together meanings and entwine connections to enhance incongruity. No ifs, ands, or butts. Just a few months ago the White House and Congress faced the Fiscal Cliff. After weeks of back and forth wrangling only a few hours remained before going over the cliff to higher taxes. Expressing her disfavor toward a do nothing Congress, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said, punningly, "Congress, it's all about time, it's about time!"

About the Author

Born and raised in Gordon, Nebraska, Charles Closson graduated college at Indiana Wesleyan University with a degree in Literature and then taught high school English. He later graduated seminary at Asbury and pastored at United Methodist Churches in California. He earned his doctorates at Claremont and Newport in California. He practiced Marriage and Family Therapy in Anaheim, California. He was also the Behavioral Health Director for Universal Care. Dr. Closson currently practices psychotherapy at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning, California. He is married with two sons and two grandchildren.