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From various English texts, have you ever found a text that contains a funny story? Maybe the text you read is a spoof text. What is a spoof text like? Let’s see the explanation in this article!

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Are there only imaginary story (narrative text) story of past experiences (recount text), text that conveys opinions (exposition text), text that explains or describes something (descriptive text), etc in the various English text materials? There is a text that can make you laugh and be entertained because it is funny. Namely spoof text, which is a funny story that aims to entertain the reader. Of course, you have to read a lot of funny texts to get interesting entertainment.

In this article, we will discuss spoof text in detail. What is a spoof text like? Are there any types? What are the structure and language rules? Check out the explanation below!

Definition of Spoof Text

Many writers interpret Spoof Text as below :

1. “Spoof is a text which tells a factual story, happened in the past time with unpredictable and funny ending”.
2. “Spoof is a kind of story which has twist (funny part in the end of the story). It contains an unpredictable event which makes the story funny”.

So it usually contains funny story, funny word game or it could be a combination of both. Then what is the difference with the Anecdote text? The difference is Spoof Text usually tells a personal experience whereas anecdote does not.

Generic Structure of Spoof Text

#Orientation
It introduces character and provides setting
#Events
It tells events in chronological order
#Twist
It closes events with unpredictable and funny ending.

Purpose of Spoof Text

To entertain / amuse the reader with a funny story
To tell a short story or event with a humorous twist

Language Features of Spoof Text

– Using past sentence (was, were, did, walked, drunk, ate)
– Direct speech, e.g. She said to Nasreddin, “Don’t let anyone in. There have been many thieves recently.”
– Focusing on individual participant like as people, animals or certain things
– Using action verb (ate, ran, was walking, etc.)
– The use of adverbial phrase of time and place (in the garden, two days ago)
– Told in chronological order
– The use of connective (first, then, finally)
– Contain twist in the end of story

Example of Spoof Text

Example of Spoof Text about Abu Nawas

Abu Nawas and the King Aaron

The king wanted to test Abu Nawas’ smartness. So he invited Abu Nawas to the palace. “You want me, your Majesty?” greeted Abu Nawas. “Yes, you have fooled me three times and that’s too much. I want you to leave the country. Otherwise you will have to go to jail” said the king. “If that is what you want, I will do what you said” said Abu Nawas sadly. Then “Remember, from tomorrow you may not step on the ground of this country anymore” the king said seriously. Then Abu nawas left the king palace sadly.
The following morning the king ordered his two guards to go to Abu Nawas’ house. The guards were very surprised found Abu Nawas still in his house. He had not left the country yet. Instead leaving the country, Abu Nawas was swimming in small pool in front of his house. “Hey Abu Nawas, why haven’t you left this country yet? The king ordered you not to step on the ground of this country anymore, didn’t he?” said the guards. “Sure he did” answered Abu Nawas calmly. “But look at me! Do I step on the ground of this country? No, I do not step on the ground. I am swimming on the water” continued Abu Nawas.

The guards were not able to argue with Abu Nawas so they left Abu Nawas’ house and went back to the palace. The guards reported what they had seen to the king. The king was curious on Abu Nawas’ excuse not to leave the country. Therefore the king ordered his guard to call Abu Nawas to come to the palace.
Abu Nawas came to the palace on stilts. The king wondered and said “Abu, I will surely punish you because you haven’t done what I have said. You have not left this country”. The King continued “And now, look at you. You walk on stilts like a child. Are you crazy? The king pretended to be furious.

“I remember exactly what you said, Your Majesty” Abu Nawas answered calmly. “This morning I took a bath in the small pool in my house so that I had not to step on the ground. And since yesterday, I have been walking on this stilts. So you see, Your Majesty, I do not step on the ground of this country”. The king was not able to say anything.

Generic Structure Analysis
Orientation: Introducing Abu Nawas and the King on the counteracts about leaving and staying in the country
Event 1: Abu Nawas was swimming on the pool
Event 2: Abu Nawas was walking on the stilts
Twister: Abu Nawas explained that swimming in the pool and walking on the stilts meant not stepping on the ground of the country.

Example of Spoof Text about Nasreddin

Nasreddin’s Coat

One day Nasreddin had been invited to the dinner party. He went to the party by wearing old clothes.
When he arrived in the party, nobody looked at him and nobody gave him a seat. He got no food in the party so he went home and change his clothes

Next he put on his best clothes. He wore his newest coat and went to the party again. The host at once got up and came to meet him. The host offered him the best table and gave him a good seat and served him the best food

Nasreddin sat and put off his coat. He put his coat and said; “Eat the food, Coat!” the hosts and guests were very surprised and asked Nareddin; “What are doing?” Nasreddin replied calmly; “When I came here with my old clothes, nobody looked at me. Then I went home and put on my best clothes. I came back in my newest coat and you all give me this best food and drink. So, you give food to my coat instead of me”. Getting Nasreddin’s answer, they just shook the head.

Generic Structure Analysis
Orientation: One day, Nasreddin was invited to a dinner party
Event 1: He was in the party with his old cloth
Event 2: He was in the party with his best newest coat
Twist: Among the hosts and guests, he asked his coat to eat the served food.

Example of Spoof Text about Nasreddin

Watch The Door

One day, when Nasreddin was still young, his mother would have something to do outside. Before leaving, she said to Nasreddin, “Nasreddin, since you are at home alone, you have to watch the door carefully. Don’t let anyone in. There have been many thieves recently.”

Nasreddin, therefore, sat by the door. An hour later, his uncle came. “Where is your mother?” he asked.
“She is out”, Nasreddin answered.
“My family will be here altogether this evening. Go and tell your mother not to be away this evening.”

As his uncle left, Nasreddin started thinking, “Mother told me to watch the door. Uncle asked me to find her and tell her that he would be here with the whole family.”

Having thought over and over, he finally made a decision. He pulled the door up, carried it, and went to meet his mother.

Terjemahan

Perhatikan Pintu

Suatu hari, ketika Nasreddin masih muda, ibunya pasti ada yang harus dilakukan di luar. Sebelum berangkat, dia berkata kepada Nasreddin, “Nasreddin, karena Anda sendirian di rumah, Anda harus melihat pintunya dengan saksama. Jangan sampai ada orang di dalamnya. Sudah banyak pencuri baru-baru ini.”

Nasreddin, oleh karena itu, duduk di dekat pintu. Satu jam kemudian, pamannya datang. “Dimana ibumu?” Dia bertanya.
“Dia keluar”, Nasreddin menjawab.
“Keluarga saya akan berada di sini sama sekali malam ini. Pergi dan beritahu ibumu jangan pergi malam ini.”

Saat pamannya pergi, Nasreddin mulai berpikir, “Ibu menyuruh saya untuk melihat pintunya. Paman meminta ku untuk menemukannya dan mengatakan kepadanya bahwa dia akan berada di sini bersama seluruh keluarga.”

Setelah berpikir berulang kali, akhirnya dia mengambil keputusan. Dia menarik pintu ke atas, membawanya, dan pergi menemui ibunya.

Example of Spoof Text : Jack and Napoleon

Jack and Napoleon

Orientation :
Jack was a university student. He studied history.

Event 1 :
At the end of his first year, his history professor failed him in his examinations and he was told to leave the university.

Event 2 :
The next day, Jack’s father went to see the professor. He urged the professor to let Jack continue his studies in the following years. “He is a good boy,” said Jack’s father, “And if you let him pass this time, I’m sure he’ll improve a lot next year and pass the examination at the end of the year well.”

Event 3 :
“No, no! That’s quite impossible”, replied the professor. “Do you know, last month I asked him when Napoleon died, and he could not answer it.”

Twist :
“Please, Sir. Give him another chance,” said Jack’s father. “You see, we don’t subscribe any newspaper in our house, so none of us even knew that Napoleon was ill.”

Terjemahan

Jack dan Napoleon

Orientation :
Jack adalah seorang mahasiswa. Dia mengambil jurusan sejarah.

Event 1 :
Di akhir tahun pertamanya kuliah, professornya manyatakan dia gagal dalam ujiannya dan dia diberitahu untuk meninggalkan atau DO dari kampusnya.

Event 2 :
Hari berikutnya, Ayah Jack pergi menemui professor. Dia meminta professor untuk mengizinkan Jack melanjutkan kuliahnya untuk semester berikutnya. “Dia itu laki-laki yang baik,” kata ayah Jack, “Dan jika anda membiarkannya lulus kali ini, aku yakin kemampuannya akan meningkat tajam tahun depan dan juga lulus ujian di akhir tahun dengan baik.”

Event 3 :
“Tidak, tidak! Itu cukup tidak masuk akal,” jawab professor. “Apakah anda tahu? Bulan lalu saya bertanya kepadanya ‘kapan Napoleon meninggal?’ dan dia tidak dapat menjawabnya.

Twist :
“Tolong lah, pak. Berikan dia kesempatan lagi,” kata ayah Jack. “Anda tahu? Kami tidak berlangganan koran dirumah kami, jadi, bahkan tidak ada satupun dari kami yang tahu kapan Napoleon mulai sakit.”

Related Articles : Recount Text ; Definition, Generic Structures, Purposes, Language Features

Oke. I think that’s all my explanation about Spoof Text. I hope it will be useful for us. I hope you are never bored to visit this site. Don’t forget to visit this site if you need English reference in your study. See you next time..

Reference :
Rudi Hartono, Genre of Texts, (Semarang: English Department Faculty of Language and Art Semarang State University, 2005).
https://www.englishindo.com/2012/04/spoof-text-penjelasan-contoh.html
Mark Andersons and Kathy Andersons, Text Type in English 1-2, Australia: MacMillanEducation, 2003.

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