Chapter 4. Verbal irony, politeness… and three ironic types

2018 ◽  
pp. 59-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Simonin
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Irony

‘Well, that’s just great!’: an empirically based analysis of non-literal and attitudinal content of ironic utterances

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holden Härtl ◽  
Tatjana Bürger
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Linguistic Expression ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Verbal Irony

Abstract This study contributes to the ongoing debate about the informational status of attitudinal content with a focus on verbal irony. Specifically, we investigate where the different meaning components involved in ironic utterances are positioned in the dichotomy between primary and secondary content of utterances. After an analysis of the semantic and pragmatic characteristics of ironic meaning components and their linguistic expression, we show, based on experimental data, that ironic, non-literally asserted content is “less” at-issue than non-ironic, literally asserted content. Crucially, our findings also suggest that an ironic utterance’s non-literally asserted content is more at-issue than the attitudinal content expressed with an ironic utterance. No difference is observed between attitudinal content manifested as ironic criticism and content manifested as ironic praise. Our findings support the notion of at-issueness as a graded criterion and can be used to argue that verbal irony in general seems to be difficult to reject directly and treated as at-issue.

‘Well, that’s just great!’: an empirically based analysis of non-literal and attitudinal content of ironic utterances

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-387
Author(s):  
Holden Härtl ◽  
Tatjana Bürger
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Linguistic Expression ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Verbal Irony

Abstract This study contributes to the ongoing debate about the informational status of attitudinal content with a focus on verbal irony. Specifically, we investigate where the different meaning components involved in ironic utterances are positioned in the dichotomy between primary and secondary content of utterances. After an analysis of the semantic and pragmatic characteristics of ironic meaning components and their linguistic expression, we show, based on experimental data, that ironic, non-literally asserted content is “less” at-issue than non-ironic, literally asserted content. Crucially, our findings also suggest that an ironic utterance’s non-literally asserted content is more at-issue than the attitudinal content expressed with an ironic utterance. No difference is observed between attitudinal content manifested as ironic criticism and content manifested as ironic praise. Our findings support the notion of at-issueness as a graded criterion and can be used to argue that verbal irony in general seems to be difficult to reject directly and treated as at-issue.

scholarly journals ’n Perspektief op ironie in die hedendaagse Afrikaanse taalgebruik

Literator ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-112
Author(s):  
T. Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Irony ◽  
Distinguishing Features

A discussion of irony in contemporary Afrikaans The purpose of this article is to investigate the nature of irony as used in contemporary Afrikaans language. A common feature of the irony that shows up consistently in contemporary Afrikaans, is some form of duality or contrast, such as between a reality and a perception. Special attention is given to the distinguishing features of verbal irony and the different semantic contrasts which could occur. Various signals indicating irony, and functions of irony in contemporary use are also examined.

What Are You Really Saying? Associations between Shyness and Verbal Irony Comprehension

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Anne Mewhort-Buist ◽  
Elizabeth S. Nilsen
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Irony

Lies and the Limitable Inane: Contradiction in Move's Utopia

1973 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan F. Nagel
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Irony ◽  
Main River

More's Utopia is a 'no place' land, as the title etymologically denominates it. To name this nusquama where the main river is the Anydrus is to enter a realm of fiction and contradiction, for this place belongs to language. This verbal irony has a precedent in the Platonic text which is one of More's models and which is, like the Utopia, a fiction with practical and didactic implications. At the end of Book ix of the Republic, Plato has Glaucon ponder just where might be located that city which has been their topic of conversation for so long: it is to be found, he says, only and 'nowhere on earth.'

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