LESSON 4. JOKES.

Yorkshire jokes came about because of the harsh conditions that many Yorkshire people were forced to live with historically, and then found solace in making fun of the situation. Though conditions are no longer dire, this tradition has carried on.
Yorkshire humour is philosophical in an every-man sense; meaning gently sarcastic, self-effacing and dry. Though it can sometimes display a sly cunning, it often follows the rule that all good comedy is directed firstly at the speaker, and then at others, or a combination of both; meaning that as much as others make mistakes, or say/do silly things, it is also possible for oneself to do the same things. The laughter generated is a combination of relief that one is not the reason for the joke, but is also heart-felt sympathy for the person that the joke is directed aginst.
"If tha' can laff... t'ole world laffs wi'-thee, bu't if tha'-crys, tha'll cry aloan."
Translation: (Laugh, and the whole world will laugh with you, but if you cry, you will cry alone).
Jokes:
A deputy (a foreman) in the pit, had to order 50 corrugated roofing sheets.
"Ar-does tha' spell corrugated?", he asked. "Err... jus' reet riggly-tin", his mate replied - and the only reason he could spell that was because he had a packet of chewing gum in his pocket.
("Wrigley's Chewing Gum", for the uninitiated)
Note to the Milkman:
"Please don't leave any milk today - all they do is drink it!"
"Please leave an extra pint of paralysed milk."
"Please leave no milk today. When I say today, I mean tomorrow, because I wrote this note yesterday."
"When you leave the milk please put coal on't fire, let't dog out and put't newspaper inside't door. P.S. Don't leave any milk."