Why do jokes come in rounds, like drinks? And what makes them an interactional safe haven in a group therapy session? These are some of the unlikely questions you encounter if you’re reading Harvey Sacks’ Lectures on Conversation, a two volume compendium of his groundbreaking work on the structure of conversation. Originally given in the 1960s and early 1970s, these lectures are full of original insights and sparkling observations. Here’s the relevant bit on jokes from Lecture 12 in par...
