ABSTRACT

This chapter examines how Club Fingal members use language to align with available identities, focusing on the performance of a collegial, and also a tough interactional identity in which humour plays an integral part. The chapter first presents examples of collegial humour that fulfils the function of creating and maintaining solidarity amongst club members. Section 2 illustrates how humour is often double edged: jovial face-threatening acts (or ‘slags’), often contain an edge (i.e. a direct face-threat), with the underlying message is “I’m stronger than you”. I do emphasize, however, that the humour is often multifunctional. The conclusion of the chapter discusses the implications regarding the construction of male identities in interaction.