Laughter conference carries on

Sometimes laughter can release tension

A college in Oxford has decided to go ahead with its conference on laughter despite the sadness surrounding the tragic events in America.

St Hugh's College, where "The Anatomy of Laughter" conference is being held on Saturday and Sunday, said it had unprecedented support for the event.

The international event explores the reasons why people laugh even in the face of adversity.

Edith McMorran, co-founder of the academic group which has organised the convention, said: "At times everything is too much and then there is almost a need for a release of tension.

'Belly laughs'

"Laughter is the other side of tears. One minute you feel like crying and then something strange happens in front of you, or someone cracks a joke.

"You don't feel like laughing but you laugh."

The conference is being held to mark the 10th anniversary of the university-based Translation Research in Oxford group (Trio).

It provides an international forum for professional translators, academics and creative writers to meet and explore the theory and practice of literary translation.

Subjects covered in sessions at the laughter conference include "'Belly Laughs" and "Is God Laughing?".