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In this paper I explore the complex and contradictory ways in which a palliative care team develops a particular discourse and sense of humour while they assist people with a terminal illness. I examine how palliative care professionals make use of, reinforce, resignify, and adopt a form of verbal and non-verbal communication in which silence, humour and laughter constitute the core aspects of the therapeutic strategies for interacting with patients. In addition, I discuss the use of humour as a strategy to deal with the pressure and contradictions characteristic of their professional field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]