arXiv Computation and Language September 11, 2026 By Yuxi Ma, Yongqian Peng, Junchen Lyu, Chi Zhang, Yixin Zhu

Timing is Everything: Temporal Scaffolding of Semantic Surprise in Humor

Read the original on arXiv Computation and Language →

The paper introduces the Dual Prediction Violation (DPV) framework to study how timing and semantic surprise interact in humor. Analyzing 828 Chinese stand‑up performances, it finds that temporal features—especially pauses before high‑surprise punchlines—are more predictive of audience appreciation than overall semantic incongruity. The study reframes humor as a temporally scaffolded phenomenon where timing and content coordinate strategically rather than independently.

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