Difference between revisions of "Pun"

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(Examples: PYEC and charging; dull spellbook)
(Examples: clarifications)
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* The substitution of a [[level teleport trap]] for the [[vault]] teleporter in [[closet]]s on deeper levels is a pun on the secondary meaning of "aerarium" as "sky".
 
* The substitution of a [[level teleport trap]] for the [[vault]] teleporter in [[closet]]s on deeper levels is a pun on the secondary meaning of "aerarium" as "sky".
 
* Levitating over a [[sink]] will cause you to "sink" to the floor.
 
* Levitating over a [[sink]] will cause you to "sink" to the floor.
* The [[Platinum Yendorian Express Card]] can be used to "charge" wands.
+
* The [[Platinum Yendorian Express Card]], which is named after the American Express charge card, can be used to "charge" wands.
* Reading a [[dull spellbook]] may give the message, "This book is so dull that you can't keep your eyes open," and put you to sleep.
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* Reading a [[dull spellbook]] (presumably the color of its cover) may give the message, "This book is so dull that you can't keep your eyes open," and put you to sleep.
 
* Etc.
 
* Etc.
  
 
The presence of so many puns is one of the challenges of translating [[NetHack in other languages|NetHack into other languages]].
 
The presence of so many puns is one of the challenges of translating [[NetHack in other languages|NetHack into other languages]].

Revision as of 04:15, 12 December 2018

A pun is a form of word play that suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. NetHack contains many puns - items or monsters that behave in ways not necessarily consistent with their real-world or mythological origin, but which make sense based on an ambiguous reading of the name.

Examples

  • The Black pudding is considered non-vegetarian, presumably because some types of blood sausage are known as "black pudding".
  • A cursed potion of gain level puns on the two different in-game meanings of "Level" to refer to both experience level and depth in the dungeon.
  • The loadstone is a pun (dating back to early editions of Dungeons and Dragons) on "lodestone". Sadly, it has no navigational function, but only acts as a heavy load.
  • The turn undead effect also derives from Dungeons and Dragons and causes undead monsters to flee. In its beam form, it can also be used to revive corpses - a pun known as the "un-turn dead" effect.
  • When polymorphed into a form that can eat metal, eating an amulet of unchanging causes you to revert to your natural form: it "un-changes" you. This is noted as a pun in the source code.
  • The substitution of a level teleport trap for the vault teleporter in closets on deeper levels is a pun on the secondary meaning of "aerarium" as "sky".
  • Levitating over a sink will cause you to "sink" to the floor.
  • The Platinum Yendorian Express Card, which is named after the American Express charge card, can be used to "charge" wands.
  • Reading a dull spellbook (presumably the color of its cover) may give the message, "This book is so dull that you can't keep your eyes open," and put you to sleep.
  • Etc.

The presence of so many puns is one of the challenges of translating NetHack into other languages.