Pun Control: Nikhil Sonnad on what triggered China's wordplay ban
To some, puns are the lowest form of humour -- but in China, they're no laughing matter.
Quartz writer Nikhil Sonnad joins guest host Wab Kinew to discuss China's crackdown on puns -- a ban that extends to radio, television, advertising and online spaces. Government officials say they want to preserve the sanctity of the language, but observers say the real targets are those who use double entendre to circumvent censorship.
Sonnad shares some examples of common subversive quips and why disapproval alone is often enough to put a chill on dissenting voices.
"Anyone who watches China knows, there's a great deal of self-censorship that goes from the person with 100 Weibo followers to the largest newspapers."