LAUGH TRACK Meaning and
Definition
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A laugh track is a pre-recorded audio track of audience laughter, played over a television show or a live comedic performance to create an atmosphere of laughter and amusement. It is also known as a canned laughter or a laugh track machine. The primary purpose of a laugh track is to induce laughter and cue the audience to find the presented jokes or comedic situations amusing.
Typically, a laugh track consists of various types of laughter, such as hearty laughs, chuckles, giggles, and applause, recorded during a live studio audience's response to a comedy show. The laughter is carefully edited and mixed to enhance the comedic timing and add a level of spontaneity to the performance. It helps to guide viewers' reactions, signaling moments of humor and encouraging them to perceive jokes as funnier than they might have otherwise.
Laugh tracks have been extensively used in television sitcoms and comedy shows since the 1950s. They serve multiple purposes, including compensating for the absence of a live studio audience, ensuring consistent comedic effect for viewers watching at home, and alleviating any awkward silences between lines. However, laugh tracks are often criticized for being artificial and manipulating the audience into perceiving certain moments as funny or entertaining. Some argue that they diminish the need for genuine comedic writing or delivery, instead relying on the audience's perception of others' reactions to prompt laughter. Despite controversy, laugh tracks persist as a familiar feature of many comedy programs, while others opt to use their absence to create a more introspective and subtle comedic experience.
Common Misspellings for LAUGH TRACK
- kaugh track
- paugh track
- oaugh track
- lzugh track
- lsugh track
- lwugh track
- lqugh track
- laygh track
- lahgh track
- lajgh track
- laigh track
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- laufh track
- lauvh track
- laubh track
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- lauyh track
- lauth track
- laugg track
Etymology of LAUGH TRACK
The word "laugh track" is derived from the combination of two separate terms: "laugh" and "track".
"Laugh" traces back to the Old English word "hleahhan", which meant to make the sound of laughter. It further evolved into Middle English as "laughen". The term "laugh" refers to the action of expressing amusement or happiness audibly, usually resulting from something funny or enjoyable.
The term "track" has a more diverse etymology. In this context, "track" refers to a recorded audio segment. It originates from the Old French term "trac", meaning the width or course of something, or a beaten path. Over time, it broadened to include the sense of a path marked out, a line of footprints, or a trail left behind.
Similar spelling word for LAUGH TRACK
