SPOOF

1.      Spoof Text

What is Spoof?

1.      Definition and Social Function of Spoof

Spoof is a text which tells factual story, happened in the past time with unpredictable and funny ending. Its social function is to entertain and share the story.

2.      Generic Structure of Spoof

1. Orientation

2. Events

3. Twist

3.      Language Feature of Spoof

1. Focusing on people, animals or certain things

2. Using action verb; ate, ran, etc

3. Using adverb of time and place

4. Told in chronological order

4.      Examples and structures of the text

Penguin In The Park
Pengenalan	Once a man was walking in a park when he came across a penguin.
Kejadian/peristiwa/ kegiatan 1	He took him to a policeman and said, ‘ I have just found this penguin. What should I do?’ The policeman replied, ‘ take him to the zoo’.
Kejadian/peristiwa/ kegiatan 2	The next day the policeman saw the same man in the same park and the man was still carrying the penguin with him. The policeman was rather surprised and walked up to the man and asked, ‘Why are you still carrying that penguin about? Didn’t you take it to the zoo? ‘  ‘I certainly did,’ replied the man.
Twist (Akhir yang lucu)	‘ and it was a great idea because he really enjoyed it, so today I’m taking him to the moviest!

Example of Spoof text

A.     “That Phone is Off”

Soon after he left college, Dave found one of his uncles who was very rich and had no children of his own died and left him a lot of money, so he decided to set up his own real estate agency.

Dave found a nice office. He bought some new furniture and moved in. he had only been there for e few hours when he heard someone coming toward the door of his office.

“It must be my first customer” Dave thought. He quickly picked up the telephone and pretended to be very busy answering an important call from someone in New York who wanted to buy a big and expensive house in the country.

The man knocked at the door while this was going on. He came in and waited politely for Dave to finish his conversation on the phone. Then the man said to Dave; “I am from the telephone company and I was sent here to connect your telephone”

Notes on the Spoof’s Generic Structure

Orientation: Dave was a lucky man. He suddenly became a very rich man because of the death of his rich uncle who had no children. He inherited his uncle’s money.

Event 1: Being rich, he wanted to set up his estate company

Event 2: He had his new office. In his office, he pretended to be a very successful businessman. He acted as had an important client. He showed by making conversation on the phone.

Twist: The man whom he showed is a telephone technician. He came to Dave’s office to connect that phone.

B.      Saved by Stilts

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.

 (Adapted from S. Harianto’s Abu Nawas and King Aaron)

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

C.      Private Conversation

Last week I went to the theatre. I had a very good seat. The play was very interesting.I did not enjoy it. A young man and a young woman were sitting behind me. They were talking very loudly.I got very angry. I could not hear the actors. I turned around. I looked at the man and the young woman angrily. They did not pay any attention.In the end, I could not bear it. I turned around again. “I could not hear a word” I said angrily.“It’s none of your business” the young man said rudely. “This is a private conversation”

(From: English New Concept)

Generic Structure Analysis

Orientation: introducing a writes as point of view “I” which is in a theatre last week

Event 1: the other theatregoers, young man and young woman, were talking noisily.

Event 2: the writer used physical language by turning around to the young man and young woman talk to not to make noisy.

Event 3: the write used verbal language by saying “I could not hear a word”.

Twister: the young man misunderstood the writer’s word and said; “It’s none of your business. It’s a private conversation”.

D.     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 aske his coat to eat the served food

E.      Penguin in the Park

Once a man was walking in a park when he across a penguin. He took it to a policeman and said; "What should I do?" The policeman replied; "Take it to the zoo!".

The next day, the policeman saw the man in the same park. The man was still carrying the penguin. The policeman was rather surprised and walked up to the man and asked; "Why are you still carrying the penguin? Didn't you take it to the zoo?" The man replied; "I certainly did. And it was a great idea because the penguin really enjoyed it. So, today I am taking it to the movie".

Analyzing the Text

Generic Structure Analysis

Orientation;introducing participants: "He" and Penguin. They were in the park

Event1; The man tended to take the penguin to the park

Event; The following day, the man were still carrying the penguin

Twist; Even, finally the man would take the penguin to the movies

Language Feature Analysis

Focusing on certain certain participants; He, penguin, policeman

Using action verb; carry, walk up

Using adverb of time and place; once, in the park

Told in chronological order; chronological order by days, the next day