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What Makes People Laugh

Provided by The National Museum of Language

Make laughter the center of this Welcoming Week celebration. The Linda Mitchell Thompson and Laura Murray from the National Museum of Language brings to you "What Makes People Laugh". An exploration of international humor, including a presentation with examples of jokes from multiple countries and languages around the world.

About the Language Museum

The National Museum of Language honors and supports language acquisition, utilization and preservation, along with linguistic and cultural diversity. Through outreach activities and online resources, they celebrate the magic and beauty of human communication.

About Linda Mitchell Thompson
Linda Mitchell Thompson is the Chief Artist-in-Residence and a Trustee at the National Museum of Language, where she brings ancient languages to life through vibrant, humor-infused illustration. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Classical Languages and Literature, a minor in Old and Middle English, and a teaching career spanning two decades in Latin and Spanish. 

About Laura Murray

Dr. Murray is the current President of the NML. She earned a BA in Anthropology from Rice University, Houston, TX, and a Ph.D. in Oriental Studies, specializing in Modern Chinese History, from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Her career (National Security Agency) spanned language-focused assignments in the U.S. and overseas.

About Welcoming Week

Welcoming Week is a national effort which connects neighbors of all backgrounds through fun and engaging activities. This year's theme is Stories We Share aims to foster a sense of belonging and community-wide connection. View our past Welcoming Week library events here (ranging from storytime, teen, button making programs as well as library displays and more).