Lots of volume.. I would guess it was a shake out for the weak hands..
Thinking back about All in the family.. seems to me that
Archie was the one who always used the wrong words.. words that meant something else.. entirely. He was not stupid.. At times, he would use metaphors..
and as silly as they were.. it would make anyone laugh out loud.. except Edith.. (and sometimes Meathead.. who would often be incensed or insulted by them)
Edith was .. well, just simple.. and she took everything everyone said.. literally.. i.e. She didn't understand analogies and such.. she was dense.
Come to think of it.. you might be right!
It could be a combination of the two.. lol